Matsumoto families settle for 510 million yen

Japan Times/March 20, 1998

Families affected by the Matsumoto sarin attack, allegedly perpetrated by Aum Shinrikyo in June 1994, have decided to accept 510 million yen in damages in their civil suit against the cult, informed sources said March 19.

After signing the compromise, the plaintiffs are expected to soon drop the case, the sources said. The compromise was reached between the plaintiffs and Aum's bankruptcy administrator. The cult was declared bankrupt in March 1996.

In the gassing, seven people were killed and several hundred others were injured. The damages suit, seeking a total of 545 million yen, was filed by eight family members of the dead in August 1995.

The bankruptcy administrator has reached a compromise in two similar cases involving relatives of victims of the Tokyo subway attack and involving the Yokohama lawyer's family.