70 year old American arrested in Japan for alleged indecent assault of a schoolgirl on train
A 70-year-old American man was arrested on suspicion of indecent assault after allegedly groping a teenage girl on a train operating on the JR Gotemba line.
The suspect, who identified himself to the police as an unemployed 70-year-old American male, was apprehended at Gotemba Station following an incident that reportedly occurred at approximately 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday, April 8th.
According to the ongoing police investigation, the man is suspected of touching the left thigh of a teenage girl, who resides in the eastern part of Shizuoka Prefecture, while both were passengers on a JR Gotemba Line train bound for Kozu.
The incident took place as the train was traveling through Gotemba City.
Immediately following the alleged groping, the teenage girl contacted a friend via her mobile phone to report the incident.
She then sought assistance from the train’s driver at a station when the train next stopped at a station.
The driver contacted a station employee at Gotemba Station to inform them of the situation and upon the train’s arrival at Gotemba Station, the driver and the station employee together apprehended the 70-year-old American man on the platform.
Police officers from the nearby Gotemba Police Station subsequently arrived at the scene and arrested the man on the spot.
Preliminary investigations by the police indicate that the arrested man was traveling alone at the time of the alleged incident.
The police have stated that the man has provided vague and unclear responses during police questioning, prompting a more detailed investigation into the specific circumstances surrounding the incident.
Police officers are currently working to ascertain the man’s travel itinerary, his purpose for being in the area, and a clearer account of the events that transpired on the train.
The JR Gotemba Line is a local railway line operated by Japan Railways (JR Central), connecting Gotemba Station in Shizuoka Prefecture with Kozu Station in Kanagawa Prefecture.
The line serves as a vital transportation link for residents and tourists in the region, passing through scenic areas near Mount Fuji and popular resort towns like Gotemba.
The early morning hours are typically a busy time for commuters and students traveling along this line as well as tourists.
As defined under Japanese law, indecent assault carries potential penalties ranging from fines to imprisonment, depending on the specifics of the case.
As this case involves an American citizen, it is possible that it could also result in the suspect being deported from Japan and being barred from re-entering the country.
The investigation will likely focus on gathering testimony from the victim, any potential witnesses, and the suspect to establish a clear understanding of the events.
The police will also be examining any available security footage from the train or stations that may provide further evidence.
The arrest of a foreign national in connection with such an incident often draws additional scrutiny and may involve communication with the individual’s embassy or consulate, although no such details have been released by the police at this early stage of the investigation.
Source: SBS News