Tomomitsu Niimi

Tomomitsu Niimi (新実 智光, Niimi Tomomitsu, 9 March 1964 – 6 July 2018) was an Aum Shinrikyo member convicted for his participation in the Sarin gas attack on the Tokyo subway and a number of other crimes. He was Aum's "minister of internal affairs".[1]

Tomomitsu Niimi
Born(1964-03-09)9 March 1964
Japan
Died6 July 2018(2018-07-06) (aged 54)
Osaka, Japan
Other namesFerdinand
OrganizationAum Shinrikyo
Criminal charge(s)Murder, terrorism
Criminal penaltyDeath by hanging
Criminal statusExecuted
Spouse(s)Yuki Niimi

Background

Judge Yujiro Nakatani said that his Aum-related crimes began in 1989 with the strangulation killing of Shuji Taguchi, who had attempted to flee from the cult. He also murdered anti-cult lawyer Tsutsumi Sakamoto and Sakamoto's wife and son the same year.[2]

Tokyo subway sarin attack

Before the Tokyo subway gas attack, Asahara wanted to try the sarin gas on humans. He chose his rival, Daisaku Ikeda, the leader of Soka Gakkai, one of Japan's most popular "new religions". Asahara directed his men to rig a spraying device on a suitable vehicle at one of the nights when Ikeda was supposed to speak in public. All was going well until the device began to leak, splashing liquid sarin onto Niimi, Asahara's security chief. Kiyohide Hayakawa was present and quickly administered an antidote in time to prevent Niimi's nervous system from shutting down.[3]

Together with Ikuo Hayashi, Niimi participated in the subway gas attack (there were several other perpetrators as well): Hayashi delivered the sarin-filled package and pierced it with a sharpened umbrella tip, while Niimi was a car driver.[4]

Tomomitsu Niimi was eventually convicted of murder and other terrorism charges. Niimi was subsequently sentenced to death by hanging. Unlike other former Aum members involved in criminal acts, Niimi made no apologies. During an earlier court hearing, Niimi proclaimed his "absolute faith" in Shoko Asahara, Aum Shinrikyo's founder, and spoke about various levels of 'enlightenments' he had been able to experience during his religious trainings in Aum. He then spoke about human sufferings, saying that "some are suffering thinking that this world is illusory and some thinking that it is real. Concerning the former members who now testify against their guru [Asahara] who did them so much good, I believe their suffering is based on the perceptions that this world is real".

Niimi was among the first 7 of the Aum Shinrikyo members on death row to be executed on 6 July 2018, including leader Shoko Asahara.[5] Relatives of victims said they approve of the execution.[6] Human Rights Watch however disapproved of the hangings.

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References
  1. Jones, Seth G.; Libicki, Martin C. (2008). How terrorist groups end: lessons for countering Al Qa'ida. Rand Corporation. p. 53. ISBN 0-8330-4465-6.
  2. Aum Shinrikyo officer Niimi given death sentence for role in 26 murders The Japan Times, 27 June 2002.
  3. Patrick Bellamy. FALSE PROPHET: THE AUM CULT OF TERROR (Chapter 18), trutv/com; accessed 8 July 2018.
  4. Tooma, Michael (2008). Safety, Security, Health and Environment Law. Federation Press. p. 60. ISBN 1-86287-668-1.
  5. "Sources: 7 former Aum cult members executed". NHK WORLD. Retrieved 6 July 2018.
  6. "Japan's doomsday cult leader behind gas attack is executed". 6 July 2018.
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