Japanese ex-soldier wins landmark sexual assault case

A Japanese court on Dec 12 found three former soldiers guilty of sexually assaulting a female colleague, in a victory for the victim whose battle for justice challenged taboos in a traditional, male-dominated society.

The case of 24-year-old former Self-Defence Forces member Rina Gonoi relates to a 2021 incident during her time in the army.

She said she was pinned down by three male colleagues, who simulated a sex act on her.

The defendants denied their acts amounted to sexual assault.

The men, aged 29 to 31, seemed to show little expression as the judge read out the verdict, giving each of them a suspended sentence of two years.

"I think it was good for Japan's society that the court handed down a guilty verdict and accepted the claims that I've made from the very beginning," an emotional Ms Gonoi told reporters outside the Fukushima district court.