Aska is known for her fierce intellect, meticulous preparation and robust advice. Those who instruct her cite her sound tactical judgment, responsiveness and client care. She has won praise from judges for her engaging and persuasive advocacy.
Aska is particularly sought after in cases requiring complex legal and extensive factual analysis with voluminous material. She is adept in dealing with expert / technical evidence and making it accessible to a jury. Aska exercises particular care when dealing with vulnerable witnesses and clients.
Current instructions include:
prosecuting 18 defendants charged with violent disorder during a demonstration in support of Stephen Yaxley-Lennon (aka Tommy Robinson);
defending a client charged with conspiracy to supply over £1.5m of drugs;
prosecution junior for conspiracy to arrange human trafficking for prostitution.
Aska has extensive knowledge in a wide range of proceeds of crime matters and is frequently instructed in all stages of the confiscation process. She also acts in cash forfeiture proceedings, often advising from an early stage.
Aska has been instructed as disclosure counsel by the Serious Fraud Office on a number of different cases and is on the SFO Prosecution counsel list.
Aska is a native Japanese speaker and has given seminars on UK constitutional and criminal law to Japanese MPs, judges and prosecutors.
Memberships
South Eastern Circuit
Criminal Bar Association
Young Fraud Lawyers Association
Appointments
CPS Advocate Panel at Level 3 (2016-2020
CPS Specialist Panel - Fraud at Level 3 (2018-2022)
SFO Prosecution Panel C List (2017-2021)
Education & Awards
Harmsworth Scholarship, Middle Temple (2011)
BPTC (2011)
MA, UCL (2007)
LLB, Waseda University, Japan (2005)
News
Jeffrey Israel and Aska Fujita defend in £5m ‘Airbnb’ Drugs Conspiracy
26 February 2019
Jeffrey Israel, leading Aska Fujita, are...
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Jeffery Israel led Aska Fujita representing the third defendant in this six-handed, eight-week trial. Aska represented her client, charged with 14 counts of conspiracy to supply drugs worth over £3.5m and possession of criminal property, from the outset. The evidence consisted of +100k pages of evidence and unused material. Instructed by Sternberg Reed.
Aska Fujita prosecuted a man caught smuggling three Albanian nationals in the cab of his lorry. The case involved cross-examination of experts. Instructed by the CPS.
Aska Fujita defended a youth jointly charged with an adult for s18 wounding by stabbing another youth in the stomach. The ten-day trial included applications to exclude identification evidence and to include the bad character of the co-defendant due to the cut-throat defence. Instructed by Sternberg Reed Solicitors.
Aska represented the third defendant as junior alone in a six-handed trial where the first defendant was represented by silk and junior, and the second defendant was represented by two juniors. Aska’s client was charged with three counts of participating in fraud by abuse of position with other family members totalling c£300,000. The trial required analysis of substantial financial evidence covering numerous bank accounts. After a six-week trial, Aska’s client was the only defendant to be acquitted of any count and ultimately received a suspended sentence. Instructed by Sternberg Reed.
Aska Fujitarepresented a defendant charged with benefit fraud, spanning over 12 years, amounting to over £120,000. After negotiations with the prosecution, a plea on a basis was agreed, resulting in a suspended sentence. Instructed by Sternberg Reed.
Aska represented the third defendant as junior alone in a six-handed trial where the first defendant was represented by silk and junior, and the second defendant was represented by two juniors. Aska’s client was charged with three counts of participating in fraud by abuse of position with other family members totalling c£300,000. The trial required analysis of substantial financial evidence covering numerous bank accounts. After a six-week trial, Aska’s client was the only defendant to be acquitted of any count and ultimately received a suspended sentence. Instructed by Sternberg Reed.
Aska Fujita represented an ex-MEP in confiscation proceedings following his conviction of offences of fraud and money laundering. The case involved complex legal issues in relation to the impact of a trust on the benefit and available amount. Instructed by Sternberg Reed. Daily Mail report here.
Aska Fujita represented the third of nine defendants charged with stealing a substantial amount of cash from their employer over the course of eight and a half years. Aska’s client was unanimously acquitted after a five-week trial. Instructed by Sternberg Reed.
Aska Fujita represented the appellant who had severe learning difficulties and mental health issues, and had been sentenced to an extended sentence comprising a four year custodial period and two year extended licence for sexual assault. The Court of Appeal allowed the appeal, reducing the custodial period to two years and eight months. The judgment is reported here(subscription required) under neutral citation [2015] EWCA Crim 1901. The Court of Appeal commended Aska for the “eloquence of her submissions”. Instructed by GT Stewart.
