Actress Erika Sawajiri Sentenced to Jail for MDMA and LSD possession

Actress Erika Sawajiri went to trial at the Tokyo District Court on January 31. Japan’s Drug Control Law for possession of illegal drugs is stringent.

For the trial, 2,229 people lined up at Hibiya Park, located near the district court, for numbered ticket distribution for the 19 public gallery seats available in the courtroom. 

Erika was arrested on November 16 over drug possession in her Tokyo home apartment. 

Following her arrest, Sawajiri was released on 5 million yen ($46,115) bail on December 6. 

Her management company, Avex Management, supports her drug rehabilitation.

Erika is known as a controversial person in Japan for her Closed Note scandal in 2007 for which she was forced to apologize publicly. Since the incident, the phrase she repeatedly said during the interview "Betsu ni" (Not really), became a viral phenomenon.

I am not thinking about returning [as an actress],” said Sawajiri during her trial. “My actions as a person in a position of influence were selfish. I’ve betrayed and hurt too many people. The price is too much…I don’t think I’m capable enough to make a return.

Erika confessed in the interrogation to have been using cocaine, marijuana, MDMA and LSD for the last 10 years and pleaded guilty to the charges. The prosecutor sentenced Sawajiri to one year and six months in prison on the grounds that she has been addicted to illegal drugs since she was 19 years old. Meanwhile, her defense lawyers have sought a suspended sentence.

You can see Erika entering the courtroom below:

Do you think that the sentence is too harsh or okay?

Originally published at Arama