Lawyers working overtime in Japan for Brian Lake release
FORMER Hawthorn premiership star Brian Lake remains in Japanese custody as legal experts work frantically to wrangle his release.
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BRIAN Lake remains in Japanese custody as legal experts try to wrangle his release.
There has been no official outcome as yet on getting charges believed to be related to assault and intoxication dropped with the three-time premiership defender still detained in Osaka following what was said to be a late-night scuffle on Saturday night.
He has been held since early on Sunday morning.
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The details of what the incident entailed remain unclear but an apology to the victim is part of the process.
Lake’s manager Marty Pask — who landed in Osaka to assist his client late on Wednesday night — said the process to get his client home remain ongoing.
“The process to get Brian home to Australia is progressing, however, no final outcomes have yet been achieved and no release date set,” Pask said on Thursday afternoon.
“I am currently in Osaka working directly with the consulate and Brian’s legal representatives to expedite this process, while respecting the relevant Japanese laws and customs.
“My priority is with Brian’s wellbeing and getting him home to his wife and kids, who are understandably distressed.”
The detailed apology process through Japanese custom reportedly went to extraordinary lengths, with Lake apologising to his victim. Incredibly, his wife Shannon and children also taped a video message to the victim and sent it to Japanese law enforcement to be used as part of the apology process.
Lawyers arranged through AFL Asia football president Matt Gale are hoping to speed up a process that would usually have taken up to 23 days.
Gale had told the Herald Sun earlier today that Lake, a former Hawthorn and Bulldogs star, was expected to be released tomorrow.
Former Bomber Ricky Olarenshaw — coach of the Bali Geckos who competed in the tournament on Saturday — was with Lake on the night he was arrested.
“As the night wore on, guys go home and guys go to different bars. The last someone saw of Brian was at a bar at 3am, and the next day we just thought Brian was sleeping off his hangover,” he told 3AW.
“We had no idea he had been locked up. It was just a chance meeting with a guy on a train that was with us the night before that told me Brian had gotten in some sort of incident.
“No one saw it … so details were pretty vague. We don’t know if it was a push and shove, or a verbal argument, or a punch. Still to this time, we don’t know.”
He said that in his time in Japan, he had been struck by the strict nature of society.
“They frown on jaywalking,” he said.
“So all you need is a 6 foot 5 bloke having an argument with someone and it could be seen as pretty serious. Again, we don’t know what level of seriousness it is.”
Lake has only just completed Australian Survivor, losing 20kg in the process in Fiji while filming for two months.
But in the Japanese jail he was stuck in a tiny cell, fed a small bowl of rice three times a day.
Lake has been through several personal challenges in recent months, including separating from his wife Shannon.
His arrest marks another chapter in a six-month period that close friend Adam Cooney on Wednesday described as the “most stressful point” in Lake’s life.
Lake had written on social media that he had separated from his wife, Shannon, describing the football tournament as “random stuff you get up to when the wife gives you the ass”.
The Norm Smith medallist has also moved on in recent months from various employers, including Fox Footy.
“He is going through a lot in his life. He’s one of those players who have struggled at times to fill that void (left by football),” Cooney said.
“Contrary to popular belief, he actually loved the game and was a bit of a footy-head. He did some stuff with Fox (Footy) last year, and then was sort of working full-time to start this year. “I think he has sort of struggled in the first half of this year to fill that void of being away from the footy limelight.
“There’s also been a couple of articles with his personal life — things are strained there and some other stuff happening at home in Adelaide.
“He’s probably at his most stressful point in his life that he’s ever been over the last six to eight weeks. No excuse whatsoever ... but I’m feeling pretty sorry for him.”
Lake, 36, had been overseas filming Australian Survivor before travelling to Bali, where he was convinced to then travel to Osaka to take part in the AFL Asia tournament.
The drunken scuffle broke out late on Saturday night, with the former Hawthorn and Western Bulldogs player believed to have started a physical altercation with a local.
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told the Herald Sun it was still providing consular assistance to a man detained in Japan, but could not provide any further information due to privacy.
A Network Ten spokesperson said: “AFL legend Brian Lake will appear in Australian Survivor: Champions Versus Contenders, coming soon to Network Ten. (He) will join the tribe of champions made up of outstanding achievers in physical, intellectual and social endeavours.”
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