The Kumamoto District Court has acquitted a Vietnamese defendant charged with importing and using counterfeit 10,000-yen notes, ruling that there were “no conclusive circumstances” to prove the individual’s awareness of the counterfeit nature of the bills.

https://www.yomiuri.co.jp/local/kyushu/news/20250718-OYTNT50081/

On July 17, the Kumamoto District Court acquitted a 38-year-old Vietnamese former technical intern trainee who was accused of importing and using counterfeit old 10,000-yen bills from Vietnam and depositing them at financial institutions. Presiding Judge Mikito Nakata delivered the not-guilty verdict, overturning the prosecution's request for a nine-year prison sentence.

The defendant, in alleged conspiracy with others, was indicted for importing a total of 176 counterfeit 10,000-yen bills from Vietnam on three occasions between June and August 2023, and depositing them at financial institutions within the prefecture.

While the prosecution argued that the defendant was aware of the possibility that the bills were counterfeit, the court ruled that there were "no decisive circumstances indicating such awareness."

The Kumamoto District Public Prosecutors Office released a statement saying they would "review the verdict and respond appropriately."