A Pokémon Go player facing charges in Japan’s first fatal traffic accident involving the hit mobile game was sentenced to 14 months of imprisonment.
On Monday, 39-year-old farmer Keiji Goo was convicted of negligence resulting in the death of Sachiko Nakanishi, 72, as well as causing injuries to another woman in an August 23 accident, the Mainichi newspaper reports.
“He was driving while looking at the game screen on an off, and his negligence is extremely heavy,” presiding judge Tomoya Arai said.
The Tokushima District court sentenced Goo with 14 months of imprisonment, although prosecutors were seeking a 20-month term. The shortened term has been criticized for being too lenient.
“Meanwhile in the UK, a driver gets 10 years for causing death as a result of playing with his phone,” a Japan Today reader commented.
Another commenter said, “What message does 14 months in prison for killing someone while you drive and play a game? Need 14 month vacation, free room and board (sic)?”
The game has been out in Japan since July 22, and it hasn’t been without controversy. There are two more cases pending in Japan that involve accidents caused by playing the game and driving.
