A Japanese court tossed out a lawsuit filed against the government and two companies by former World War II Chinese slave laborers.

The laborers said they were forced by the Japanese government to work in mines there, the Kyodo News Agency reports.

Judge Keiji Suda of the Fukuoka Disrict Court dismissed the charges Wednesday because although it was illegal, the crimes took place during the Meiji authority and the current government is not responsible.

The Meiji Consitution was in place from 1890 to 1947.