Aum successor accused of hiding assets to avoid paying redress

Published October 7, 2024 By admin with Comments 0

The Public Security Intelligence Agency has extended activity restrictions against Aleph, the successor group of the Aum Shinrikyo cult, over suspicions it is concealing assets to avoid paying compensation to crime victims.

The agency believes Aleph started hiding hundreds of millions of yen in assets after it was ordered to pay bereaved families and victims of Aum Shinrikyo’s series of crimes, including the sarin nerve gas attack on the Tokyo subway system in 1995.

The restrictions come under the law for regulation of associations, which was enacted in 1999 with countermeasures against Aum Shinrikyo in mind.

Under the law, Aleph is required to provide the government a report about the group’s members and assets every three months.

However, in September, the Public Security Examination Commission, which accepts requests from the Public Security Intelligence Agency, found Aleph’s reports were inadequate and decided to restrict its activities for another six months to prevent a recurrence.

The activity restriction prohibits Aleph from using all or part of 16 group facilities, as well as receiving money and other goods, such as offerings.

Aleph has about 20 facilities nationwide.

The restriction on facility use was first imposed on the group in March 2023. This is the fourth time it has been imposed on the group.

In the decision, the Public Security Examination Commission found that Aleph has been engaged in profit-making businesses under at least 10 names.

Content retrieved from: https://www.asahi.com/ajw/articles/15451366.