Photo/Illutration Rina Gonoi, a former member of the Ground Self-Defense Force, addresses journalists on Oct. 17, 2022. She was speaking after receiving an apology from the individuals she accuses of sexually abusive behavior. (Sayuri Ide)

FUKUSHIMA--A former member of the Ground Self-Defense Force collapsed at the trial of three men accused of sexually assaulting her at Fukushima District Court on July 31.

Rina Gonoi, 23, fell to the floor and was hospitalized as her former superior told the court that he lied to protect the suspects and took no disciplinary action because of a locker room atmosphere at the time of the incident.

Gonoi had breathing difficulties but later recovered, her lawyer said.

Gonoi alleges that GSDF members Shutaro Shibuya, 30, Akito Sekine, 29, and Yusuke Kimezawa, 29, pushed her to the floor in a training building in Hokkaido and repeatedly pressed their crotches against her.

The alleged assault occurred in August 2021, when Gonoi was stationed at the GSDF’s Camp Koriyama in Fukushima Prefecture.

After an internal investigation, the Defense Ministry in September 2022 acknowledged the assault and apologized.

The three were indicted in March this year.

In the first hearing, the three denied the allegations.

“I did not engage in any behavior like thrusting my hips,” one suspect told the court.

Gonoi’s former superior told the court that he lied to the internal inquiry when he denied seeing the alleged behavior.

He said he decided to tell the truth after Gonoi came forward to report the assault using her real name and waiving anonymity.

The superior said he had lied to protect the three men but came to conclude that he was in the wrong.

He also described to the court the atmosphere when the alleged assault took place.

“Everyone around me was laughing,” he said. He said that he just “laughed and overlooked (it).”

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