Ohkawara investigators turned to prosecutors regarding the forged documents

Tokyo police have sent documents to the prosecutor’s office regarding three people involved in the investigation of machinery manufacturer Ohkawara Kakohka on suspicion of creating, using and destroying documents containing falsified information.

The Metropolitan Police Department sent the documents Wednesday after receiving a criminal complaint stating that its investigation of a Yokohama-based company for exporting spray dryers was illegal.

Sources say the three suspects were allegedly involved in compiling a May 2019 report on experiments on a spray dryer by a Yokohama-based chemical machinery manufacturer, deliberately excluding data unfavorable to establishing the case.

The three were allegedly involved in forcing a former director of the company to sign an affidavit of explanation during a March 2020 hearing, pretending to have modified it as requested by the former director. According to sources, they are also suspected of destroying the statement.

In March 2020, MPD arrested three Ohkawar Kakohki executives in violation of foreign exchange laws. They were charged with exporting spray dryers that could be used to produce biological weapons.

However, in July 2021, the Tokyo District Prosecutor’s Office dropped the charges against them. The company’s website filed criminal complaints with MPD between March and April this year.

In September 2021, the company’s website sued the central government and the Tokyo metropolitan government for damages. The Tokyo District Court ordered both sides to pay a total of 160 million yen, but the case is pending before the Tokyo High Court as both sides have appealed the verdict.

On Wednesday, Ohkawara Kakohki issued a statement expressing hope that prosecutors would conduct a proper investigation.