M45
Morotai Trial M45 was one of the largest Australian war crimes trials conducted after the Second World War. The case concerned the alleged mistreatment of Allied prisoners of war held at Tantui Prisoner of War Camp on Ambon. Proceedings commenced at Ambon on 2 January 1946 before being transferred to Morotai on 19 January, where the trial concluded on 15 February 1946.
The prosecution initially brought charges against ninety-one officers, guards and a civilian interpreter associated with the Shirozu Unit and the administration of the camp. At the close of the prosecution case, the court ruled that no prima facie case had been established against eleven of the accused, who were acquitted. The remaining eighty defendants stood trial, resulting in four death sentences, thirty-two terms of imprisonment and forty-four acquittals. This page summarises the trial, the accused, the sentences imposed and the surviving archival records, including the Judge Advocate General's review.
List of accused
NAGATANI/TAKEJI
In view of medical condition the execution of his sentence is suspended as of 3 October 1950. Medical report to be obtained each 6 months, first report 31 Jan 1951
SHIMAKAWA/MASAICHI (2)
Morotai trial
KONDO/MICHITAKA
Imprisonment 4 years 6 months
SHIROZU/WADAMI (2)
Morotai trial
Shirozu was executed on 25/9/47 at Rabaul on another execution warrant from M45 court proceedings held in Morotai from 2/1/46 to 15/2/46
IKEUCHI/MASAKIYO
Morotai trial
Also known as Frank, Snakers and Kangaroo was Interpreter and Camp Manager at Tantoei between Feb 42 and Aug 45. On 12 July 42 33 Dutchmen were brutally beaten for exchanging letters with members of the Dutch Civilian Internee Camp. Beating lasted for 3 hrs, one Japanese being allocated to one PW. Ikeuchi participated in this beating and his victim died the next day of internal injuries. Two other victims, one of whom had an eye torn from its socket, died on the day following the beatings. 33 returned to camp with broken legs, arms and/or ribs.
Ikeuchi had responsibility of supplying the working parties requisitioned by the Japanese units. To make up the required number Ikeuchi would make a round of the hospital and huts and club sick and dying men, some on crutches, on to the working pde. For allegedly breaking out of camp and visiting a native village, 23 APWs were systematically beaten and tortured for 8 days - some bound to trees, others were strung up by cable wire around their wrists with their toes just touching the ground - beaten senseless with pick handles and revived with cold water and beaten senselessly again - tortured by lighted cigarettes up their nostrils. Victims given one rice meal a day with water - sometimes after they drunk the water, the Japanese would jump on their stomachs. The ill who could not return to camp were executed cf NAA 721016 p 4.
NAKAMURA/RYOSUKE
Morotai trial
sentenced to 18 mths