ARSONIST CONVICTED FOR FIRE THAT KILLED FIVE PEOPLE EXECUTED

TOKYO, AUGUST 21 /SRNA/ - Sunao Takami, who was convicted of setting a fire that killed five people at a parlor in 2009, was executed by hanging this morning, AP reported.

"I ordered the execution of the death penalty after careful and thorough consideration," Justice Minister Hiroshi Hiraguchi said.

He recalled that Takami started the fire at a crowded parlor in Osaka by pouring gasoline and throwing a lit match, after which the flames engulfed the building, killing five people and injuring another 10.

Takami, 58, was found guilty of murder, attempted murder and arson and sentenced to death by an Osaka District Court ruling in 2011.

His appeals were rejected by the Supreme Court in 2016, upholding the death sentence.