Formal trials were requested for189persons for the series of cases allegedly involving Aum Shinrikyo cult members,including the Sarin gas attacks in Tokyo subway system on March20,1995.All the first instance criminal proceedings were concluded,and as of August31,2004,final judgment has been handed down to173defendants.More specifically,three were sentenced to imprisonment with labor for life,166sentenced to imprisonment with labor for a limited term(79of which were without suspension of execution and87(including two found partially not guilty)were with suspension of execution),three sentenced to fine and one found not guilty.
  Five have been sentenced to death in the first instance court and are awaiting Koso appeal judgments.Seven were sentenced to death in the first instance and have received the same judgment in Koso appeal(all awaiting Jokoku appeal judgments).One was sentenced to life imprisonment with labor in the first instance court and has been sentenced to death in Koso appeal(awaiting Jokoku appeal judgments).Two were sentenced to life imprisonment with labor in the first instance and have received the same judgment in Koso appeal(both awaiting Jokoku appeal judgments)(Source:Data by Criminal Affairs Bureau,Ministry of Justice).