Jail Time Sought in Elevator Accident

In 2006 16-year-old high school student Hirosuke Ichikawa  got on an elevator in a housing complex in Tokyo. He never got off.

He became wedged between the elevator and the elevator shaft when the elevator suddenly began to ascend with the doors open. The accident was fatal.

Prosecutors indicted four executives of SEC Elevator  Company and Schindler Elevator K.K, both of which were in charge of maintenance during 2005 and 2006. They are seeking prison terms of 16 to 18 months for the executives, claiming that a problem with the braking system had previously occurred in November 2004 and that proper maintenance measures had not been taken.

In an article in Mainichi Weekly, Hirosuke’s mothers said, “This case is not only about the life of a 16-year-old but a safety issue for all who use elevators.”