Help Make Julian's Return Possible
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Update on Julian:
On May 22, 2018, Julian Adame, an American citizen and senior at the University of Redlands, was traveling abroad when he was arrested and jailed in Tokyo, Japan, for a minor, non-violent, non-drug offense. Eight months later, he is still in a Tokyo prison, awaiting his trial.
The night of his arrival, Julian explored the city’s nightlife with two people he had befriended at his hostel. They warned him about Japanese gang members who dress up like police officers, ask for your passport to commit identity theft, and extort and kidnap you. After three beers, sleep-deprived Julian feel asleep at a bar. He woke to a policeman informing him he had broken a lamp and must pay 100,000 yen for it, roughly $900. Abandoned by his companions, Julian feared the policemen were actually gang members. They asked to see his passport and upon his refusal, put him in a police car. In a panic, Julian called “911” thirteen times. The police drove him to a community police box, where video footage was recorded of Julian telling the officers, “you’re going to kill me!” As they set out for his hostel to obtain his passport, the police transferred Julian to an unmarked car in which more officers, not in uniform, entered. Once at the hostel, an officer attempted to handcuff Julian. Startled, he resisted arrest. The police charged him with the Obstruction of the Performance of Official Duties, a minor, nonviolent, nondrug offense.
His lawyer informed me the lamp will cost around $850, though he is negotiating with the bar owner in an attempt to lower the fee. Julian can be charged $5,000 max for his offense.
The previous GoFundMe money has helped cover the fees for a translator I hired for Julian and will be used for his flight home. However, we now must cover the lamp cost, the fine he will be charged with and another translator visitation fee. He cannot return home until these costs are covered. Without access to Julian’s money I am depending on community and family support to help cover these expenses. What was supposed to be a fun trip has turned into a 8 month nightmare for Julian.
His court hearings have continually been delayed, interrupted, or postponed. The prosecutor assigned to his case twice ordered the video footage be translated by a court-appointed translator, pushing back the hearing by a month. A second hearing was interrupted in the middle of the cross-examination of a police officer when another hearing was scheduled in the same courtroom, causing another month-long delay. His most recent hearing was scheduled for December 12. Unfortunately, his lawyer’s father passed the day before, postponing the trial until mid-February.
Julian is immensely grateful for the initial donations. He was overwhelmed by the support. If possible, please donate and share this with those who may also be willing. Julian has remained positive in all his letters, the embassy officials even inform me they feel relieved about his wellbeing after visiting. I have included Julian’s address if writing to him interests anyone! Letters and books are what’s getting him through.
Julian Adame
Tokyo Detention House
1-35-Kosuge, Katsushika
Tokyo, Japan [phone redacted]
On May 22, 2018, Julian Adame, an American citizen and senior at the University of Redlands, was traveling abroad when he was arrested and jailed in Tokyo, Japan, for a minor, non-violent, non-drug offense. Eight months later, he is still in a Tokyo prison, awaiting his trial.
The night of his arrival, Julian explored the city’s nightlife with two people he had befriended at his hostel. They warned him about Japanese gang members who dress up like police officers, ask for your passport to commit identity theft, and extort and kidnap you. After three beers, sleep-deprived Julian feel asleep at a bar. He woke to a policeman informing him he had broken a lamp and must pay 100,000 yen for it, roughly $900. Abandoned by his companions, Julian feared the policemen were actually gang members. They asked to see his passport and upon his refusal, put him in a police car. In a panic, Julian called “911” thirteen times. The police drove him to a community police box, where video footage was recorded of Julian telling the officers, “you’re going to kill me!” As they set out for his hostel to obtain his passport, the police transferred Julian to an unmarked car in which more officers, not in uniform, entered. Once at the hostel, an officer attempted to handcuff Julian. Startled, he resisted arrest. The police charged him with the Obstruction of the Performance of Official Duties, a minor, nonviolent, nondrug offense.
His lawyer informed me the lamp will cost around $850, though he is negotiating with the bar owner in an attempt to lower the fee. Julian can be charged $5,000 max for his offense.
The previous GoFundMe money has helped cover the fees for a translator I hired for Julian and will be used for his flight home. However, we now must cover the lamp cost, the fine he will be charged with and another translator visitation fee. He cannot return home until these costs are covered. Without access to Julian’s money I am depending on community and family support to help cover these expenses. What was supposed to be a fun trip has turned into a 8 month nightmare for Julian.
His court hearings have continually been delayed, interrupted, or postponed. The prosecutor assigned to his case twice ordered the video footage be translated by a court-appointed translator, pushing back the hearing by a month. A second hearing was interrupted in the middle of the cross-examination of a police officer when another hearing was scheduled in the same courtroom, causing another month-long delay. His most recent hearing was scheduled for December 12. Unfortunately, his lawyer’s father passed the day before, postponing the trial until mid-February.
Julian is immensely grateful for the initial donations. He was overwhelmed by the support. If possible, please donate and share this with those who may also be willing. Julian has remained positive in all his letters, the embassy officials even inform me they feel relieved about his wellbeing after visiting. I have included Julian’s address if writing to him interests anyone! Letters and books are what’s getting him through.
Julian Adame
Tokyo Detention House
1-35-Kosuge, Katsushika
Tokyo, Japan [phone redacted]
Organiser
Kate Emmons
Organiser
Redlands, CA
