About a month after the news conference , Sato and Suzuki were arrested and charged with theft and trespassing . According to the activists , they were detained by police for 26 days , and were held without charge for 23 days . During that time , they also said they were questioned without a lawyer , tied to chairs , and interrogated for up to 12 hours a day . According to a United Nations human rights group , their treatment by Japanese authorities was arbitrary and contravened elements of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights . Amnesty International also expressed its concern about their treatment and suggested that the detention and charges against Sato and Suzuki may have been aimed at intimidating activists . During his interrogation by police , Suzuki claims he was compared to the Aum Supreme Truth group , which committed poison gas attacks on the Tokyo subway . The two activists faced up to 18 months in prison . Sato stated on June 24 , 2010 , that , while he believes that he and Suzuki will be convicted , he has no regrets , because he believes that the " wrong-doing " had to be exposed
poison gas attacks
Tokyo subway sarin attack
Tokyo Two