Tokyo Olympic Swimmer Gets Suspended Term for Dangerous Driving

Tokyo, Sept. 9 (Jiji Press)–The Tachikawa branch of Tokyo District Court on Wednesday sentenced swimmer Tomoru Honda, who won a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, to one year in prison, suspended for three years, for dangerous driving resulting in injury. The prosecution had demanded a one-year sentence, arguing that Honda, 24, drove dangerously out of a selfish desire to catch up with a sports car in front of him, which was “reckless and vicious.” During his trial, Honda admitted that he could not make a calm judgment because of his poor competition results at the time. “I feel sorry for causing trouble to many people,” he said. “I will never drive again.” According to the indictment, Honda was driving between 88 and 108 kilometers per hour on an ordinary road with a legal speed limit of 30 kilometers per hour when he crashed into an oncoming car around 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 21 last year. The car’s driver, in his 60s, was left with serious injuries including a fractured sternum. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]