Footage from the opening of the Singapore War Crimes Trials.

Interior footage of the courtroom; man speaking (prosecution counsel?). Looking down on a man writing. Accused Japanese soldiers in the dock bowing. Officer speaking. President of the court speaking. Journalists conferring. Close-ups of the accused. Courtroom. Tilt up along a counsel bench. Accused entering the dock wearing numbered boards around their necks. Courtroom. President and panel entering. President addressing the court. Men taking notes. President of the court being sworn in. Accused in the dock. Member of the panel takes a small book (a bible?) from a clerk or attendant. Prosecutor making his opening address. Accused in the dock pleading not guilty. Various views of the court.

Notes

An important film marred by poor lighting, a non-chronological arrangement of rolls on the viewing copy, spotty film stock and at times a distracting level of vibration.

In areas that fell under the responsibility of South East Asia Command, tribunals such as those seen in this film were convened under the authority of the Supreme Allied Commander. From January 1946 to December 1948 the British brought 304 cases against 919 defendants which resulted in 280 death sentences (of which 222 executions), 53 life sentences, 477 other prison sentences, and 105 acquitals. Three of the remaining 4 cases were withdrawn.

The dopesheet names the President as Lieutenant-Colonel Colman, Royal Army Ordnance Corps, the senior member as Major Gay of the Cameronians, and the third as Captain Koli, Indian Army. The prosecutor is named as Lieutenant-Colonel Lazarus and his assistant as Captain Hibbert, both of the Royal Army Service Corps. The counsel for the defence was Lieutenant-Colonel Sleeman of the 15th/6th Lancers, assisted by Major Fairburn of the Rifle Brigade. A Mr Harano is also named as a Japanese civilian interpreter. The dopesheet for the previous film identifies the defendants, all of the Imperial Japanese Army, as:

Captain Gozawa Sadaichi (wearing '1')

Lieutenant Kaniyuki Nakamura (2)

Captain Okusawa Ken (3).

Lieutenant Kajino Ryuichi (4)

Sergeant-Major Tanno Shozo (5).

Sergeant-Major Ono Tadasu (6).

Sergeant Yabi Jinichiro (7).

Corporal Osaki Makoto (8).

Corporal Ashiya Tomotsu (9).

Lance Corporal Chiba Masami (10).

More information can be found on the University of California Berkeley's War Crimes Studies Centre website. See reference below.

This trial lasted until 1 February 1946. The three charges against the defendants related to the maltreatment of Indian prisoners of war and the beheading of Sepoy Mohammed Shafi. Nakamura was found guilty of the beheading and was sentenced to death by hanging. All except Kajino and Ono (who were acquitted) were found guilty and sentenced to terms of up to 12 years.