Global Security Newswire

A Japanese court today handed a Tokyo businessman a suspended two-year prison sentence after he pleaded guilty to sending equipment to Myanmar that could be used in the development of nuclear weapons, Kyodo News reported (see GSN, Oct. 5).

The court also fined the trading firm headed by Keiko Ri, 41, more than $65,000 for failing to obtain government approval last year before exporting three grinding devices that could be used in producing uranium enrichment centrifuges. The uranium enrichment process can generate nuclear-weapon material as well as fuel for civilian applications.

"These (devices) could be used to produce nuclear weapons. It could have a grave impact on world peace and erode trust in our country," said Juichiro Kora, the Yokohama District Court judge who presided over the case.

Ri was also convicted of trying to ship a magnetic measuring device to Myanmar earlier this year. The government had demanded a two-year prison sentence and more than $77,000 in fines for the acts (Kyodo News/Breitbart.com, Nov. 5).