TOKYO (AP) - The wife of the doomsday cult guru accused of masterminding the 1995 Tokyo subway nerve gas attack was released from prison Tuesday, ending her six-year jail term, media reports said.
Tomoko Matsumoto, 44, was expected to return to her home outside of Tokyo where her three children live, Kyodo News said.
The Justice Ministry refused to confirm her release, citing privacy concerns.
In September 1999, the Tokyo District Court found that Matsumoto conspired with her husband, Aum Shinrikyo founder Shoko Asahara, and several disciples to kill a fellow cultist.
The court later reduced her seven-year sentence by one year, after she appealed and apologized to the victims' parents. She claimed she was present at the murder but did not commit the 1994 killing.
Matsumoto said in a statement that she plans to divorce her husband and stay away from the group, according to Kyodo.
So far, 10 cultists have been sentenced to death. However, none have been executed.
Asahara is still on trial for allegedly planning the subway gassing that killed 12 and injured thousands, as well as other killings.
Despite a police crackdown following the gassing, the cult has regrouped under a new name, Aleph, with about 1,000 members.
The group remains under surveillance by Japan's Public Safety Agency, which considers it a threat.