Aum to pay 10 million for illegal squatting

Mainichi Daily News, August 14, 1999

Aum Shinrikyo doomsday cult agreed Friday to pay 10 million yen in damages for occupying a building unlawfully in Adachi-ku, Tokyo.

The cult agreed to pay damages to the bankruptcy receiver of the building owner when the group moves out of the building, in which the public relations department of the religious group is housed.

According to the receiver of the building owner, attorney Saburo Abe, the damages include the rent for the premises from June last year, when the group moved into the building, up to Sept. 30 this year when Aum promised to move out.

Furthermore, Aum agreed to pay a penalty of 30,000 yen per day if the religious group failed to evacuate the building by the deadline.

In July, the Tokyo District Court declared the owner bankrupt and the receiver urged Aum to hand over the building.