TOKYO, May 10 (Xinhua) -- Japan's parliament enacted a bill on Wednesday, allowing courts to grant the use of GPS tracking devices on defendants to prevent them fleeing the country while on bail, the country's public broadcaster NHK reported.
The move comes amid the increasing number of people granted bail in Japan and rising numbers of them skipping it, including a high-profile case in which former Nissan Motor Co. CEO Carlos Ghosn fled from Japan to Lebanon in 2019 while awaiting charges of financial misconduct.
Defendants released on bail will be required to wear the GPS tracking devices if the courts feel it necessary, such as in cases where the defendant might be deemed a flight risk.
If defendants break their bail terms and try to flee the country, authorities will be able to track them down as they enter airports and seaports from which the defendants have been banned.
Further charges, such as an additional two years in prison, may be added to a defendant's case if they fail to show up to court appearances or are absent from court-mandated residences for a period longer than agreed, under the revised law.
In addition, if a defendant removes the GPS device or enters buildings or areas which have been prohibited by the courts, he could face imprisonment of up to one year.
The use of the GPS devices as part of the bail release program will begin within five years of the promulgation of the revised law.
The new law has also made provisions to better protect the anonymity of victims of sex crimes and other crimes and prevent their assailants from receiving personal information about their victims.
This will be achieved and used as deemed necessary by judges and prosecutors by not disclosing the personal information of victims, including, but not limited to, their names and addresses, during criminal proceedings. ■