M23

In Nov 44 Capt (then Lt) Kato was in charge of an outpost consisting of 4 Japanese and 16 Indonesian soldiers situated on the estuary of one of the rivers in Dutch Borneo. An Australian patrol was ambushed and Sig Williams was captured and brought to outpost. He was apparently well-treated but Capt Kato by signal asked for instructions what to do with APW. He rxed a signal from his HQ signed by Chief of Staff ordering him to execute prisoner.

A couple of days later this order was carried out by shooting by a squad of 5 Indonesians under the command of Kato.