Even to this day, many court decisions raise economic motivation as a basis on which to doubt
the credibility of the applicants. On the other hand, a more liberal understanding has appeared in
some decisions. In 2002 the Hiroshima District Court, in the criminal case of RES v Japan
(Prosecutor), concluded that the Afghan applicant should be granted refugee status and exempted from penalty for violation of the Act. In assessing the credibility of the defendant, the Court accepted
compatibility of fear of being persecuted with the motivation of labour:
Even if the defendant (applicant) was motivated by the possibility of working in Japan at the
same time, it does not preclude the acknowledgement of his will to seek asylum.