Japan's top court rejects appeal by cult guru Asahara

Japan’s top court today rejected an appeal by doomsday cult founder Shoko Asahara, reportedly finalising his death sentence for the 1995 nerve-gas attack on Tokyo’s underground rail system.

Asahara was convicted in 2004 of masterminding the attack, in which his followers released sarin nerve gas on crowded commuter trains in Tokyo’s government district, killing 12 and injuring thousands.

A Supreme Court voted to reject the appeal, said Naoki Katayama, a court spokesman.

He refused to say, however, whether the decision would definitely lead to Asahara’s execution.

National broadcaster NHK and Kyodo News agency, however, said the ruling had closed Asahara’s final avenue to avoid execution by hanging.

Deputy Chief Cabinet Secretary Jinen Nagase called the decision “appropriate”.