TOKYO- Tokyo Summary Court decided Wednesday to put Dentsu Inc.  on a formal trial in a high-profile illegal overtime case.

On July 5, the Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office brought a summary indictment against the Japanese advertising giant on charges of violating the labor standards law. But the court judged the prosecutors' action to only demand a fine was inappropriate.

It is rare for a summary court to reverse a decision by public prosecutors, sources familiar with the matter said.

The first hearing on the overwork problem at Dentsu, which came to light following the work-related suicide by a young female employee in December 2015, will be held at the summary court.

Usually a summary court orders payment of fines up to one million yen in a summary trial after only examining documents. But under the criminal procedure law, if a judge finds a summary indictment inappropriate, an open trial should be held.

Tokyo Summary Court is believed to have taken into account the social impact of the revelation of fatal work conditions at the leading ad agency, pundits said. (Jiji Press)