TSUCHIURA, Ibaraki -- Plainclothes police staking out a station apparently managed to blow two chances to capture a murder suspect prior to his fatal stabbing rampage there.
Masahiro Kanagawa, 24, an unemployed resident of Tsuchiura, allegedly passed through a ticket gate at JR Arakawaoki Station, despite the plainclothes officers on guard there, on March 22 and again on March 23 -- the day he went on a rampage that left one dead and seven injured.
Kanagawa, who is under arrest over the March 19 murder of Yoshikazu Miura, 72, had been wanted since March 21 after he sent an e-mail message to his mother's mobile phone earlier the same day, saying that he was going to kill more people.
Kanagawa also called and taunted police, calling them from his mobile phone at around 12:42 p.m. on March 22, and saying, "I'm Kanagawa, try and catch me soon."
The prefectural police determined that the man made the call at the Arakawaoki Station and dispatched several plainclothes policemen to the station, with two of them keeping watch over the ticket gate at the station.
However, Kanagawa managed to move to JR Toride Station and called police again at 1:38 p.m. the same day, this time making a silent call.
Investigators suspect that Kanagawa used Arakawaoki Station on March 22, because he told police after his arrest that he had "gone by train" after leaving a business hotel in Tokyo's Akihabara district earlier the same day. Kanagawa does not have a driver's license.
There is also a witness report that says a man believed to be Kanagawa was spotted near the station on March 22.
A 46-year-old man, who said he was driving a car on a road about 500 meters north of the station at around 1 p.m. on March 22 told police, "I saw a man closely resembling (Kanagawa) walking while murmuring, with a knit cap and black jacket on. I remember I was impressed with his long sideburns, and shortly later I heard a police siren."
茨城県土浦市のＪＲ荒川沖駅周辺で起きた８人殺傷事件で、別の殺人容疑で逮捕された同市中村東３、無職、金川（かながわ）真大（まさひろ）容疑者（２４）を、殺傷事件前日も県警の捜査員が荒川沖駅で見逃していた可能性が高いことが分かった。容疑者は２３日の殺傷事件直前に私服警察官２人が内外にいた改札口をすり抜けている。２日連続で指名手配中の容疑者に気づかず、県警の捜査体制が改めて問われそうだ。
調べでは、金川容疑者は殺傷事件２日前の２１日午前、母親の携帯電話に「犠牲者が増えるよ」と事件を予告するメールを送った。県警もこれを把握し２１日夕、市内の三浦芳一さん（７２）殺害事件で指名手配し公開捜査に切り替えた。
一方、容疑者は２２日午後０時４２分に１１０番し「金川です」と名乗り「早く捕まえてごらん」と話して切った。県警は携帯電話の位置情報から発信は荒川沖駅東口と割り出した。駅には始発から改札口内外に１人ずつ、周辺にも３～５人の私服警官を配置、重点警戒をしていた。容疑者は約１時間後の午後１時３８分にＪＲ取手駅付近から再び無言で１１０番している。２２日は東京・秋葉原のビジネスホテルを出た後「電車で移動した」と供述しており、荒川沖駅改札を出入りし、再び電車で移動したとみられるが、張り込みの警察官は気づかなかった。容疑者は運転免許を持たず、県警は駅の警戒を強めていた。
２２日午後１時すぎに荒川沖駅東口から北約５００メートルの路地で車を運転していたという店員の男性（４６）は「ニット帽をかぶった黒の上着の（金川容疑者と）よく似た男がぶつぶつ言いながら歩いているのを見た。長いもみあげが印象的で、直後にパトカーのサイレンが響いた」と話し、容疑者とみられる男が駅周辺にいたという目撃情報もある。
March 31, 2008
Mainichi
Monday, March 31, 2008
Fukuoka cop arrested for attempted rape
FUKUOKA -- A police captain here has been arrested for attempting to rape a woman he met during an investigation.
Fukuoka Prefectural Police on Friday arrested Takashi Nitta, 48, captain at the prefectural police, on charges of attempted rape. Nitta has denied the allegations.
According to police, Nitta asked a Fukuoka woman, who'd cooperated in an investigation, out for dinner on Feb. 26. After the two had dined at a bar in Fukuoka's Chuo-ku, Nitta invited her to a karaoke bar; and at around 10:25 p.m. the same day, Nitta allegedly took her to a hotel in Chuo-ku, shoved her to the bed and forced a kiss on her.
The case surfaced after the woman complained to the prefectural police on March 12. However, Nitta denies the charges, saying, "It is totally incorrect. It's true that we went to a hotel, but I didn't ask her to go."
"It is very shameful for us police officers, and it's extremely regrettable. We deeply apologize to the victim and to prefectural citizens," Kenichi Fujiwara, chief inspector at the prefectural police, said.
Nitta was transferred to the police affairs department after his arrest.
Recently, another senior policeman at Fukuoka Prefectural Police was accused of trespassing and subsequently resigned.
強姦未遂：福岡の警部逮捕 女性をホテルに連れ込む
福岡県警は２８日、知人女性に性的暴行をしようとしたとして、福岡市早良区西新７、同県警地域課課長補佐（警部）、新田隆容疑者（４８）＝逮捕後、警務課付＝を強姦未遂容疑で逮捕した。
調べでは、新田容疑者は機動捜査隊班長だった２月２６日、捜査協力者の女性会社員（２７）＝福岡市在住＝を電話で誘い、同市中央区の居酒屋で飲食。その後、「カラオケに行こう」と誘い、同日午後１０時２５分ごろ、同区内のホテルに連れ込み、女性をベッドに押し倒して無理やりキスするなどして乱暴しようとした疑い。女性が同容疑者の顔をたたくなどして抵抗したという。同容疑者は非番勤務だった。
３月１２日、女性が県警に被害を届け出て発覚。同容疑者は調べに対し「全然違います。ホテルに行ったのは事実ですが、私は誘っていません」と供述し、強姦未遂容疑を否認しているという。
同県警では捜査２課巡査長＝退職＝が住居侵入事件を起こしたばかり。藤原健一・首席監察官は「同じ警察官として大変情けない。痛恨の極み。被害者や県民に深くおわびする」と謝罪した。【和田武士】
March 31, 2008
Maichichi
Fukuoka Prefectural Police on Friday arrested Takashi Nitta, 48, captain at the prefectural police, on charges of attempted rape. Nitta has denied the allegations.
According to police, Nitta asked a Fukuoka woman, who'd cooperated in an investigation, out for dinner on Feb. 26. After the two had dined at a bar in Fukuoka's Chuo-ku, Nitta invited her to a karaoke bar; and at around 10:25 p.m. the same day, Nitta allegedly took her to a hotel in Chuo-ku, shoved her to the bed and forced a kiss on her.
The case surfaced after the woman complained to the prefectural police on March 12. However, Nitta denies the charges, saying, "It is totally incorrect. It's true that we went to a hotel, but I didn't ask her to go."
"It is very shameful for us police officers, and it's extremely regrettable. We deeply apologize to the victim and to prefectural citizens," Kenichi Fujiwara, chief inspector at the prefectural police, said.
Nitta was transferred to the police affairs department after his arrest.
Recently, another senior policeman at Fukuoka Prefectural Police was accused of trespassing and subsequently resigned.
強姦未遂：福岡の警部逮捕 女性をホテルに連れ込む
福岡県警は２８日、知人女性に性的暴行をしようとしたとして、福岡市早良区西新７、同県警地域課課長補佐（警部）、新田隆容疑者（４８）＝逮捕後、警務課付＝を強姦未遂容疑で逮捕した。
調べでは、新田容疑者は機動捜査隊班長だった２月２６日、捜査協力者の女性会社員（２７）＝福岡市在住＝を電話で誘い、同市中央区の居酒屋で飲食。その後、「カラオケに行こう」と誘い、同日午後１０時２５分ごろ、同区内のホテルに連れ込み、女性をベッドに押し倒して無理やりキスするなどして乱暴しようとした疑い。女性が同容疑者の顔をたたくなどして抵抗したという。同容疑者は非番勤務だった。
３月１２日、女性が県警に被害を届け出て発覚。同容疑者は調べに対し「全然違います。ホテルに行ったのは事実ですが、私は誘っていません」と供述し、強姦未遂容疑を否認しているという。
同県警では捜査２課巡査長＝退職＝が住居侵入事件を起こしたばかり。藤原健一・首席監察官は「同じ警察官として大変情けない。痛恨の極み。被害者や県民に深くおわびする」と謝罪した。【和田武士】
March 31, 2008
Maichichi
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Police superintendent cops suspension for copying porn seized as evidence
FUNABASHI, Chiba -- A police superintendent who ordered assistants to copy pornographic DVDs seized as evidence in a crime case so he could take them home and watch them has been suspended from duty for one month, police said.
Also punished were the captain who issued the order for the DVDs to be copied, and the assistant inspector who actually made the copies in the Funabashi Higashi Police Station, both of whom will have a 10 percent pay cut for the next six months.
The assistant inspector has also been reported to the Chiba District Public Prosecutors Office, accused of proliferation of indecent images.
"This is extremely regrettable," Chiba Prefectural Police spokesman Atsushi Nishiyama said. "We deeply apologize to the people of the prefecture. We will thoroughly manage evidence and try to make sure something like this doesn't happen again."
Police said the superintendent asked the captain to make copies of uncensored pornographic DVDs police had seized in a raid on a Funabashi video dealer in September 2006. The captain then instructed the assistant inspector to copy the movies in October 2006. The assistant inspector made copies of 18 DVDs, giving them to the superintendent, assistant inspector and another officer at the station.
ポルノＤＶＤ：警視、複製し持ち帰り 停職１カ月－－県警 ／千葉
船橋東署の刑事官だった警視（４６）＝現県警留置管理課付＝が、事件の証拠品であるポルノＤＶＤを署内でダビングさせ持ち帰っていた問題で、県警は２６日、警視を停職１カ月の懲戒処分とした。警視の依頼で部下に指示した警部（６０）＝当時同署生活安全課長、現同署付▽署内でダビングした警部補（５３）＝当時同署巡査部長、現八千代署係長＝の２人も減給１０分の１（６カ月）とした。また、警部補をわいせつ図画頒布容疑で千葉地検に書類送検した。
県警監察官室によると、警視は０６年９月、同署が船橋市のビデオ販売店から押収した無修正ＤＶＤを、観賞用にダビングするよう警部に依頼。警部から指示された警部補は０６年１０月、署内で１８枚ダビングし、警視や警部、部下の男性巡査に渡した。
同県警の西山厚志・首席監察官は「誠に遺憾。県民に深くおわびする。証拠品の管理を徹底し、再発防止に努める」とコメントした。【中川聡子】
March 27, 2008
Mainichi
Also punished were the captain who issued the order for the DVDs to be copied, and the assistant inspector who actually made the copies in the Funabashi Higashi Police Station, both of whom will have a 10 percent pay cut for the next six months.
The assistant inspector has also been reported to the Chiba District Public Prosecutors Office, accused of proliferation of indecent images.
"This is extremely regrettable," Chiba Prefectural Police spokesman Atsushi Nishiyama said. "We deeply apologize to the people of the prefecture. We will thoroughly manage evidence and try to make sure something like this doesn't happen again."
Police said the superintendent asked the captain to make copies of uncensored pornographic DVDs police had seized in a raid on a Funabashi video dealer in September 2006. The captain then instructed the assistant inspector to copy the movies in October 2006. The assistant inspector made copies of 18 DVDs, giving them to the superintendent, assistant inspector and another officer at the station.
ポルノＤＶＤ：警視、複製し持ち帰り 停職１カ月－－県警 ／千葉
船橋東署の刑事官だった警視（４６）＝現県警留置管理課付＝が、事件の証拠品であるポルノＤＶＤを署内でダビングさせ持ち帰っていた問題で、県警は２６日、警視を停職１カ月の懲戒処分とした。警視の依頼で部下に指示した警部（６０）＝当時同署生活安全課長、現同署付▽署内でダビングした警部補（５３）＝当時同署巡査部長、現八千代署係長＝の２人も減給１０分の１（６カ月）とした。また、警部補をわいせつ図画頒布容疑で千葉地検に書類送検した。
県警監察官室によると、警視は０６年９月、同署が船橋市のビデオ販売店から押収した無修正ＤＶＤを、観賞用にダビングするよう警部に依頼。警部から指示された警部補は０６年１０月、署内で１８枚ダビングし、警視や警部、部下の男性巡査に渡した。
同県警の西山厚志・首席監察官は「誠に遺憾。県民に深くおわびする。証拠品の管理を徹底し、再発防止に努める」とコメントした。【中川聡子】
March 27, 2008
Mainichi
Man matching suspect in murder of British woman spotted in Ikebukuro
A man closely resembling the suspect wanted in connection with the murder of a British woman has been frequently spotted in Tokyo's Ikebukuro district, police said.
Chiba Prefectural Police have received about 40 pieces of information in which witnesses said they saw in Ikebukuro a man resembling Tatsuya Ichihashi, 29, who is wanted in connection with the murder of Lindsay Ann Hawker, 22.
The witnesses said a man whose eyes and other characteristics closely resembled Ichihashi had frequently visited a pachinko parlor, a hotel and restaurants near JR Ikebukuro Station since right after the murder of Hawker in March last year up until recently.
The investigation headquarters at the prefectural police has also found that Ichihashi, an unemployed man from Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, had visited Ikebukuro with an acquaintance before the slaying took place.
Presuming that Ichihashi may still be in the Ikebukuro area, police have deployed a large number of investigators to the district, trying to get information on the suspect from restaurants, hotels and adult-entertainment shops in the area.
The body of Hawker, who was an English teacher at a private language school, was found in a bath tub on the balcony of Ichihashi's apartment in Ichikawa in March last year. Ichihashi, who was Hawker's private student, has been on the run since the body was found.
After the murder, the prefectural police publicized a facial photo of Ichihashi, as well as an image of him in the disguise of a woman, and Ichihashi's hand-drawn picture of Hawker, leading to more than 3,000 pieces of information on the suspect being submitted by the public to prefectural police.
The National Police Agency (NPA) will pay a reward up to 1 million yen to anyone who provides information that could lead to the arrest of Ichihashi before June.
People with information on the suspect can call the investigation headquarters at: 047-397-0110.
一方、これまでの調べで、市橋容疑者が事件前に知人と池袋を訪れていたことも判明。このため、捜査本部は池袋に土地勘があり、事件後も訪れている可能性があるとみて、捜査員を集中的に投入。飲食店やホテル、風俗店での聞き込みなどを進めている。
捜査本部は１４１人態勢で臨んでおり、市橋容疑者が女装して潜伏している可能性もあるとみて、女装写真も作成して公開。また、絵を描くことが趣味だった市橋容疑者がリンゼイさんを以前描いたデッサンも公開している。これまで、池袋での目撃も含め、３０００件以上の情報が寄せられている。
警察庁も逮捕につながる情報の提供者に、今年６月まで最大１００万円を支払うことにしている。情報は県警の捜査本部（電話０４７・３９７・０１１０）で受け付けている。【山本太一】
【ことば】リンゼイさん殺害事件
千葉県船橋市に住んでいた英国籍の英会話学校女性講師、リンゼイさんが行方不明になり、千葉県警の捜査員がリンゼイさんの個人レッスンを受けていた同県市川市の市橋容疑者の自宅を訪問して、ベランダにあった浴槽内で遺体を発見した。この時、市橋容疑者は自宅にいたが、捜査員を振り切って逃走した。県警は死体遺棄容疑で市橋容疑者を指名手配し、捜査員延べ４万５０００人を投入して行方を追っている。
March 26, 2008
Mainichi
Chiba Prefectural Police have received about 40 pieces of information in which witnesses said they saw in Ikebukuro a man resembling Tatsuya Ichihashi, 29, who is wanted in connection with the murder of Lindsay Ann Hawker, 22.
The witnesses said a man whose eyes and other characteristics closely resembled Ichihashi had frequently visited a pachinko parlor, a hotel and restaurants near JR Ikebukuro Station since right after the murder of Hawker in March last year up until recently.
The investigation headquarters at the prefectural police has also found that Ichihashi, an unemployed man from Ichikawa, Chiba Prefecture, had visited Ikebukuro with an acquaintance before the slaying took place.
Presuming that Ichihashi may still be in the Ikebukuro area, police have deployed a large number of investigators to the district, trying to get information on the suspect from restaurants, hotels and adult-entertainment shops in the area.
The body of Hawker, who was an English teacher at a private language school, was found in a bath tub on the balcony of Ichihashi's apartment in Ichikawa in March last year. Ichihashi, who was Hawker's private student, has been on the run since the body was found.
After the murder, the prefectural police publicized a facial photo of Ichihashi, as well as an image of him in the disguise of a woman, and Ichihashi's hand-drawn picture of Hawker, leading to more than 3,000 pieces of information on the suspect being submitted by the public to prefectural police.
The National Police Agency (NPA) will pay a reward up to 1 million yen to anyone who provides information that could lead to the arrest of Ichihashi before June.
People with information on the suspect can call the investigation headquarters at: 047-397-0110.
一方、これまでの調べで、市橋容疑者が事件前に知人と池袋を訪れていたことも判明。このため、捜査本部は池袋に土地勘があり、事件後も訪れている可能性があるとみて、捜査員を集中的に投入。飲食店やホテル、風俗店での聞き込みなどを進めている。
捜査本部は１４１人態勢で臨んでおり、市橋容疑者が女装して潜伏している可能性もあるとみて、女装写真も作成して公開。また、絵を描くことが趣味だった市橋容疑者がリンゼイさんを以前描いたデッサンも公開している。これまで、池袋での目撃も含め、３０００件以上の情報が寄せられている。
警察庁も逮捕につながる情報の提供者に、今年６月まで最大１００万円を支払うことにしている。情報は県警の捜査本部（電話０４７・３９７・０１１０）で受け付けている。【山本太一】
【ことば】リンゼイさん殺害事件
千葉県船橋市に住んでいた英国籍の英会話学校女性講師、リンゼイさんが行方不明になり、千葉県警の捜査員がリンゼイさんの個人レッスンを受けていた同県市川市の市橋容疑者の自宅を訪問して、ベランダにあった浴槽内で遺体を発見した。この時、市橋容疑者は自宅にいたが、捜査員を振り切って逃走した。県警は死体遺棄容疑で市橋容疑者を指名手配し、捜査員延べ４万５０００人を投入して行方を追っている。
March 26, 2008
Mainichi
Wednesday, March 26, 2008
Underwear-snatching cop handed prison sentence
A police officer convicted of stealing women's underwear and groping a teenage girl was Wednesday sentenced to 2 1/2 years' imprisonment.
Handed the sentence at the Hachioji Branch of the Tokyo District Court was Keisuke Kamihara, a former senior officer in the Metropolitan Police Department's No. 7 riot police unit.
"His awareness of the norms as a police officer was numbed, and his criminal responsibility is great," Judge Kazunobu Yamazaki said as the officer was handed the sentence.
Yamazaki was convicted of sneaking into a woman's apartment in the Tokyo city of Tachikawa in October last year and stealing 17 items, including underwear. He also stole underwear and cash in five thefts between March and October last year, according to the ruling. In February last year, the 27-year-old officer also fondled the breasts of an 18-year-old girl on a road in Tachikawa and snatched a bag from her valued at 25,900 yen, the ruling said.
下着ドロ：元警視庁巡査長に懲役２年６月の実刑
アパートに侵入し女性の下着を盗むなどしたとして、窃盗や強制わいせつ罪などに問われた元警視庁第七機動隊巡査長、神原圭介被告（２７）＝懲戒免職＝に対し、東京地裁八王子支部は２６日、懲役２年６月（求刑・懲役３年６月）の実刑判決を言い渡した。山崎和信裁判官は「警察官としての規範意識がまひしており、刑事責任は重大だ」と指摘した。
判決によると、神原被告は昨年１０月、東京都立川市曙町にあるアパートの女性の部屋に忍び込み、下着など１７点を盗むなど、昨年３～１０月に５件の盗みをして現金や下着など計１４万３０００円相当を盗んだ。昨年２月には、立川市の路上で、女性（１８）の胸を触り手提げバッグ（時価２万５９００円相当）を奪った。【神澤龍二】
March 26, 2008
Mainichi
Handed the sentence at the Hachioji Branch of the Tokyo District Court was Keisuke Kamihara, a former senior officer in the Metropolitan Police Department's No. 7 riot police unit.
"His awareness of the norms as a police officer was numbed, and his criminal responsibility is great," Judge Kazunobu Yamazaki said as the officer was handed the sentence.
Yamazaki was convicted of sneaking into a woman's apartment in the Tokyo city of Tachikawa in October last year and stealing 17 items, including underwear. He also stole underwear and cash in five thefts between March and October last year, according to the ruling. In February last year, the 27-year-old officer also fondled the breasts of an 18-year-old girl on a road in Tachikawa and snatched a bag from her valued at 25,900 yen, the ruling said.
下着ドロ：元警視庁巡査長に懲役２年６月の実刑
アパートに侵入し女性の下着を盗むなどしたとして、窃盗や強制わいせつ罪などに問われた元警視庁第七機動隊巡査長、神原圭介被告（２７）＝懲戒免職＝に対し、東京地裁八王子支部は２６日、懲役２年６月（求刑・懲役３年６月）の実刑判決を言い渡した。山崎和信裁判官は「警察官としての規範意識がまひしており、刑事責任は重大だ」と指摘した。
判決によると、神原被告は昨年１０月、東京都立川市曙町にあるアパートの女性の部屋に忍び込み、下着など１７点を盗むなど、昨年３～１０月に５件の盗みをして現金や下着など計１４万３０００円相当を盗んだ。昨年２月には、立川市の路上で、女性（１８）の胸を触り手提げバッグ（時価２万５９００円相当）を奪った。【神澤龍二】
March 26, 2008
Mainichi
'Tired' police officer leaps to death from apartment block
KAWASAKI -- A National Police Agency (NPA) superintendent was found dead here early Tuesday, apparently after he leaped to his death from a building, law enforcers said.
The 43-year-old officer was found dead on a road outside the apartment block where he lived at about 5:25 a.m. on Tuesday. A note saying, "I'm tired," was found in the superintendent's home, leading police to suspect that he committed suicide. They are investigating possible motives.
NPA officials said that the superintendent was hired by the Imperial Guard, and from March 14 he had been assigned to a division specializing in international terrorism countermeasures.
"He had just been transferred, and we can't think of any worries or trouble with work he might have had," an NPA representative said.
In the Imperial Guard, the superintendent had belonged to the No. 2 protection division in charge of guarding the crown prince and his family.
自殺：警察庁警視がマンションから飛び降りか 川崎
２５日午前５時２５分ごろ川崎市麻生区のマンション前路上で、同マンションに住む警察庁警視の男性（４３）が倒れているのが見つかった。自宅からは「疲れた」などと書かれた遺書が見つかっており、神奈川県警麻生署は飛び降り自殺とみて動機を調べている。
同庁によると警視は皇宮警察の採用で、今月１４日付で、同庁警備局国際テロリズム対策課に異動になった。同庁は「異動したばかりで、仕事上のトラブルや悩みは思い当たらない」としている。警視は皇宮警察では、皇太子ご一家の警備を担当する護衛２課に所属していた。
March 25, 2008
Mainichi
The 43-year-old officer was found dead on a road outside the apartment block where he lived at about 5:25 a.m. on Tuesday. A note saying, "I'm tired," was found in the superintendent's home, leading police to suspect that he committed suicide. They are investigating possible motives.
NPA officials said that the superintendent was hired by the Imperial Guard, and from March 14 he had been assigned to a division specializing in international terrorism countermeasures.
"He had just been transferred, and we can't think of any worries or trouble with work he might have had," an NPA representative said.
In the Imperial Guard, the superintendent had belonged to the No. 2 protection division in charge of guarding the crown prince and his family.
自殺：警察庁警視がマンションから飛び降りか 川崎
２５日午前５時２５分ごろ川崎市麻生区のマンション前路上で、同マンションに住む警察庁警視の男性（４３）が倒れているのが見つかった。自宅からは「疲れた」などと書かれた遺書が見つかっており、神奈川県警麻生署は飛び降り自殺とみて動機を調べている。
同庁によると警視は皇宮警察の採用で、今月１４日付で、同庁警備局国際テロリズム対策課に異動になった。同庁は「異動したばかりで、仕事上のトラブルや悩みは思い当たらない」としている。警視は皇宮警察では、皇太子ご一家の警備を担当する護衛２課に所属していた。
March 25, 2008
Mainichi
Officer runs afoul of Copyright Law
03/25/2008
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
FUKUOKA--Prefectural police here Monday referred to prosecutors the case of an officer suspected of infringing on a map publisher's copyright through his use of Winny file-sharing software.
Police said the officer, who is 31 and from Hyogo Prefecture, made it possible for other Winny users to download map data created by the publisher.
Earlier this month, police seized the officer's personal computer.
A check showed that he had downloaded numerous maps created by Kita-Kyushu-based Zenrin Co.
The officer admitted during police questioning to downloading maps using Winny, saying he planned to use them for work. He also said he was aware that his actions were illegal, according to sources.
Because Winny allows direct receiving and sending of coded data, rather than going through a server, it is usually difficult to pinpoint illegal users.
But the prefectural police used their own system to identify the officer in question.
In March 2006, the National Police Agency instructed police departments around the country to make sure that staff were aware of a new ban on using Winny software, which automatically makes data available to other Winny users after a person has repeatedly downloaded particular data.
Downloading data, music for instance, for personal use is not prohibited.
The officer's personal computer also stored other data that he likely obtained via Winny, the sources said.
The first arrest concerning possible Copyright Law violations over the Winny program occurred in November 2003 when the Kyoto prefectural police arrested two men for allegedly making movie images and video game software available.
In May 2004, the Kyoto prefectural police arrested the creator of Winny for helping others to violate the law.
The former teaching assistant at the University of Tokyo was found guilty by the Kyoto District Court in December 2006.
He is currently appealing the decision at the Osaka High Court.(IHT/Asahi: March 25,2008)
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
FUKUOKA--Prefectural police here Monday referred to prosecutors the case of an officer suspected of infringing on a map publisher's copyright through his use of Winny file-sharing software.
Police said the officer, who is 31 and from Hyogo Prefecture, made it possible for other Winny users to download map data created by the publisher.
Earlier this month, police seized the officer's personal computer.
A check showed that he had downloaded numerous maps created by Kita-Kyushu-based Zenrin Co.
The officer admitted during police questioning to downloading maps using Winny, saying he planned to use them for work. He also said he was aware that his actions were illegal, according to sources.
Because Winny allows direct receiving and sending of coded data, rather than going through a server, it is usually difficult to pinpoint illegal users.
But the prefectural police used their own system to identify the officer in question.
In March 2006, the National Police Agency instructed police departments around the country to make sure that staff were aware of a new ban on using Winny software, which automatically makes data available to other Winny users after a person has repeatedly downloaded particular data.
Downloading data, music for instance, for personal use is not prohibited.
The officer's personal computer also stored other data that he likely obtained via Winny, the sources said.
The first arrest concerning possible Copyright Law violations over the Winny program occurred in November 2003 when the Kyoto prefectural police arrested two men for allegedly making movie images and video game software available.
In May 2004, the Kyoto prefectural police arrested the creator of Winny for helping others to violate the law.
The former teaching assistant at the University of Tokyo was found guilty by the Kyoto District Court in December 2006.
He is currently appealing the decision at the Osaka High Court.(IHT/Asahi: March 25,2008)
Police procedures questioned / Plainclothesmen at scene of stabbing spree not equipped with radios
The Yomiuri Shimbun
MITO--The eight plainclothes police officers posted in and around JR Arakawaoki Station on the lookout for a man wanted for murder were not equipped with radios and thus were unable to coordinate their actions when the man they were seeking went on a stabbing spree in the station area, it was learned Monday.
The members of the Tsuchiura Police Station's task force investigating the murder of a 72-year-old man in the city were looking for murder suspect Masahiro Kanagawa.
Due to the lack of radio communication, the officers were unable to coordinate with each other, and could not prevent the series of attacks. "Consequently, we couldn't work well. We have to review it," an officer of the investigation team said.
On Sunday, the police task force placed one officer on the southbound platform of the station, one just inside the ticket gates, one just outside the gates, two each on the east and west exits of the station. There is only one ticket gate area at the station. The eighth officer, acting as a leader of the eight, was watching the northbound platform and also patrolling the station.
According to the police, Kanagawa got off a northbound Joban Line train at about 11 a.m. and went though a ticket gate. After allegedly attacking an 18-year-old male high school student, Kanagawa stabbed 29-year-old police officer Yuji Isshiki, who was stationed outside the gates.
Isshiki notified the officer inside the gates, and this officer tried unsuccessfully to pursue Kanagawa.
The prefectural police first learned about the attacks via a phone call informing them that a man with a knife was at the Nagasakiya department store in a nearby shopping center.
Four of the eight officers learned about the attack by calls to their cell phones from the prefectural police and rushed to Nagasakiya to search for the man.
The two officers deployed at the west exit went into the station to aid victims near the ticket gates, according to the police.
The investigation task force said it decided not to issue radios to the officers as earphones from the radios would have allowed Kanagawa to notice the plainclothes officers deployed at the station.
The investigation task force team instructed the eight officers to wear body armor, but they were not carrying sidearms.
According to the National Police Agency and other sources, police chasing a suspect normally use radios to receive instructions and to check each other's locations.
A senior NPA official said, "I must say the way the officers were deployed was problematic. It's regrettable."
Following the incident, the National Police Agency instructed the prefectural police to examine whether there were problems in the search for the suspect and other investigative methods used after Kanagawa had been placed on the wanted list.
According to the police, Kanagawa had been staying in Tokyo since allegedly killing Yoshikazu Miura on Wednesday. On Saturday, Kanagawa reportedly traveled by JR Joban Line train to Arakawaoki Station, where he called the police, saying, "You'd better catch me soon."
On the same day, Kanagawa returned to Tokyo and stayed at a business hotel near JR Akihabara Station, the police said. He returned to Arakawaoki Station on Sunday morning, they said.
Meanwhile, friends and acquaintances of Takahiro Yamagami burned incense and prayed Monday in front of the shopping center in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki Prefecture, where he was fatally stabbed.
One woman broke down in tears after placing flowers at the site. "I heard that the Ibaraki prefectural police mobilized 170 officers [to search for Kanagawa]. What were they doing? Isn't their job to protect citizens like us?" she said.
===
Woman hurt in knife attack
NAGOYA--A 36-year-old woman was seriously injured after being stabbed in the back with a knife on a street in Naka Ward, Nagoya, early Monday, police said.
According to the police, Yasuko Nakatani, an employee at a restaurant in the city, is believed to have been stabbed by a man at about 3:05 a.m.
With a fruit knife stuck in her back, Nakatani reportedly went to an apartment of her friend on her own and called for an ambulance.
(Mar. 25, 2008)
MITO--The eight plainclothes police officers posted in and around JR Arakawaoki Station on the lookout for a man wanted for murder were not equipped with radios and thus were unable to coordinate their actions when the man they were seeking went on a stabbing spree in the station area, it was learned Monday.
The members of the Tsuchiura Police Station's task force investigating the murder of a 72-year-old man in the city were looking for murder suspect Masahiro Kanagawa.
Due to the lack of radio communication, the officers were unable to coordinate with each other, and could not prevent the series of attacks. "Consequently, we couldn't work well. We have to review it," an officer of the investigation team said.
On Sunday, the police task force placed one officer on the southbound platform of the station, one just inside the ticket gates, one just outside the gates, two each on the east and west exits of the station. There is only one ticket gate area at the station. The eighth officer, acting as a leader of the eight, was watching the northbound platform and also patrolling the station.
According to the police, Kanagawa got off a northbound Joban Line train at about 11 a.m. and went though a ticket gate. After allegedly attacking an 18-year-old male high school student, Kanagawa stabbed 29-year-old police officer Yuji Isshiki, who was stationed outside the gates.
Isshiki notified the officer inside the gates, and this officer tried unsuccessfully to pursue Kanagawa.
The prefectural police first learned about the attacks via a phone call informing them that a man with a knife was at the Nagasakiya department store in a nearby shopping center.
Four of the eight officers learned about the attack by calls to their cell phones from the prefectural police and rushed to Nagasakiya to search for the man.
The two officers deployed at the west exit went into the station to aid victims near the ticket gates, according to the police.
The investigation task force said it decided not to issue radios to the officers as earphones from the radios would have allowed Kanagawa to notice the plainclothes officers deployed at the station.
The investigation task force team instructed the eight officers to wear body armor, but they were not carrying sidearms.
According to the National Police Agency and other sources, police chasing a suspect normally use radios to receive instructions and to check each other's locations.
A senior NPA official said, "I must say the way the officers were deployed was problematic. It's regrettable."
Following the incident, the National Police Agency instructed the prefectural police to examine whether there were problems in the search for the suspect and other investigative methods used after Kanagawa had been placed on the wanted list.
According to the police, Kanagawa had been staying in Tokyo since allegedly killing Yoshikazu Miura on Wednesday. On Saturday, Kanagawa reportedly traveled by JR Joban Line train to Arakawaoki Station, where he called the police, saying, "You'd better catch me soon."
On the same day, Kanagawa returned to Tokyo and stayed at a business hotel near JR Akihabara Station, the police said. He returned to Arakawaoki Station on Sunday morning, they said.
Meanwhile, friends and acquaintances of Takahiro Yamagami burned incense and prayed Monday in front of the shopping center in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki Prefecture, where he was fatally stabbed.
One woman broke down in tears after placing flowers at the site. "I heard that the Ibaraki prefectural police mobilized 170 officers [to search for Kanagawa]. What were they doing? Isn't their job to protect citizens like us?" she said.
===
Woman hurt in knife attack
NAGOYA--A 36-year-old woman was seriously injured after being stabbed in the back with a knife on a street in Naka Ward, Nagoya, early Monday, police said.
According to the police, Yasuko Nakatani, an employee at a restaurant in the city, is believed to have been stabbed by a man at about 3:05 a.m.
With a fruit knife stuck in her back, Nakatani reportedly went to an apartment of her friend on her own and called for an ambulance.
(Mar. 25, 2008)
Details of confessions to be taped
The Yomiuri Shimbun
The Supreme Public Prosecutors Office plans to start the audio and video recording of all interrogations of suspects who have confessed to prosecutors from April in all cases that would be handled under the lay judge system to be launched next year, prosecutors said Friday.
The decision was revealed in the final report of the top prosecutors office on the effectiveness of recording interrogations.
However, the report declined to recommend the recording of all stages of the interrogation process because it says this might make it difficult for suspects to confess to offenses.
The report also detailed a set of guidelines for the recordings, such as not stopping recordings without approval and not editing recordings.
The National Police Agency, which had expressed strong opposition to the recording of interrogations, has also decided to introduce the system on a trial basis.
With the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office decision to record interrogations in all types of cases to be handled by lay judges, Japan's criminal investigation system, which has been criticized for being conducted behind closed doors, is likely to reach a watershed, observers said.
In August 2006 the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office started recording interrogations of suspects on a trial basis as a means of proving that their confessions were not coerced. Up to December, prosecutors recorded the interrogations of suspects in 170 cases.
The final report said the recording of interrogations would function as effective evidence in helping lay judges determine whether confessions were made voluntarily.
The report concluded that the audio and visual recording of interrogations should take place in all cases to be handled by lay judges in principle, as long as this did not interfere with the investigation process.
Of all cases to be handled by lay judges, interrogations would only be recorded in cases in which suspects have already made confessions.
If suspects have denied their involvement in their respective cases, their interrogations by prosecutors will not be recorded because there would be no confession whose legitimacy could be disputed in the court, the report said.
Other cases in which the audio and video recording of interrogations will not be mandatory include the following cases:
-- When a suspect refuses to answer questions asked by prosecutors out of fear of retaliation by members of organized crime syndicates or other parties, or if there is a possibility that the suspect's relatives or other parties might subsequently become the subject of attacks.
-- When an interpreter refuses to cooperate with investigators questioning a non-Japanese suspect.
-- When a suspect refuses to allow the recording of the interrogations.
(Mar. 22, 2008)
The Supreme Public Prosecutors Office plans to start the audio and video recording of all interrogations of suspects who have confessed to prosecutors from April in all cases that would be handled under the lay judge system to be launched next year, prosecutors said Friday.
The decision was revealed in the final report of the top prosecutors office on the effectiveness of recording interrogations.
However, the report declined to recommend the recording of all stages of the interrogation process because it says this might make it difficult for suspects to confess to offenses.
The report also detailed a set of guidelines for the recordings, such as not stopping recordings without approval and not editing recordings.
The National Police Agency, which had expressed strong opposition to the recording of interrogations, has also decided to introduce the system on a trial basis.
With the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office decision to record interrogations in all types of cases to be handled by lay judges, Japan's criminal investigation system, which has been criticized for being conducted behind closed doors, is likely to reach a watershed, observers said.
In August 2006 the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office started recording interrogations of suspects on a trial basis as a means of proving that their confessions were not coerced. Up to December, prosecutors recorded the interrogations of suspects in 170 cases.
The final report said the recording of interrogations would function as effective evidence in helping lay judges determine whether confessions were made voluntarily.
The report concluded that the audio and visual recording of interrogations should take place in all cases to be handled by lay judges in principle, as long as this did not interfere with the investigation process.
Of all cases to be handled by lay judges, interrogations would only be recorded in cases in which suspects have already made confessions.
If suspects have denied their involvement in their respective cases, their interrogations by prosecutors will not be recorded because there would be no confession whose legitimacy could be disputed in the court, the report said.
Other cases in which the audio and video recording of interrogations will not be mandatory include the following cases:
-- When a suspect refuses to answer questions asked by prosecutors out of fear of retaliation by members of organized crime syndicates or other parties, or if there is a possibility that the suspect's relatives or other parties might subsequently become the subject of attacks.
-- When an interpreter refuses to cooperate with investigators questioning a non-Japanese suspect.
-- When a suspect refuses to allow the recording of the interrogations.
(Mar. 22, 2008)
EDITORIAL: 'Stomping' verdict
03/22/2008
The Fukuoka District Court on Tuesday rendered a verdict that harshly condemned humiliating tactics used by a former police officer investigating alleged election fraud during voting for the Kagoshima prefectural assembly in 2003.
The presiding judge labeled the actions of the interrogator as "aberrant and illegal" and sentenced him to 10 months in prison, suspended for three years.
At issue was the way the officer forced an innocent suspect to stomp on paper sheets containing the names of his father and grandchildren. The practice is called fumiji.
The defendant, a former assistant inspector with the Kagoshima prefectural police, was found guilty of violating the law against special public servants' abuse of authority through assault or humiliation.
The stomping episode occurred during the inspector's questioning of a hotel operator in the suspected vote-buying case who had submitted to voluntary questioning. When the suspect kept silent, the inspector attempted to get him to talk by writing on sheets of paper the names of his grandchildren and father, as well as the words: "Please become an honest grandfather soon." The sheets were placed on the ground, with the inspector then grasping the man by the ankle and making him tramp directly on the sheets.
The hotel operator felt humiliated at being forced to tread on symbols of respect and love of his family members, causing him severe psychological stress.
The stern verdict was appropriate.
Interrogators found to have committed violent acts against suspects or humiliating them psychologically or physically can face prison terms of up to seven years. Almost all past applications of this law have involved cases of violence. The significance of Tuesday's ruling, which took a harsh view of what the person interrogated suffered psychologically, cannot be overstated.
The problems with the Kagoshima prefectural police in this case are not limited to the stomping incident. It turned out that the hotel operator was not even indicted in the end. The 12 other people eventually charged were later acquitted.
Castigated in the ruling, therefore, were the strong-armed tactics of an investigation that sought indictments through coerced confessions obtained by any possible means.
Investigations that rely on extracting confessions from suspects continue to be fixtures at other police departments as well, posing a serious problem for the nation's law-enforcing authorities at large. In response, the National Police Agency has compiled guidelines for proper investigations, including the monitoring of questioning by police divisions other than the investigation units.
Improving the means used in investigations is easier said than done, however. These are not procedures guaranteed to produce results even when conducted by the book. There may be cases when the interrogation methods need to be adjusted for certain suspects, and sometimes it might be necessary to push and pull.
At the very least, however, techniques that trample on people's feelings or insult them outright cannot be counted upon to dig up the truth. False confessions, furthermore, also run the risk of inviting bogus accusations and convictions.
In past editorials, we have pointed out the critical need to introduce a system for the filming and recording of all stages of criminal interrogations, in order to help avoid a recurrence of cases like this.
Though the NPA continued to drag its feet on this suggestion, it has at last followed in the footsteps of public prosecutors in moving to partially record and film investigations on a trial basis. This is a step in the right direction.
Under the planned citizen judge system to be introduced in 2009, in which citizens will act as judges together with professional judges, intensive hearings will be used to lighten the burden of the lay judges. In cases when defendants choose to deny charges due to what they claim are coerced confessions, the conventional system of long and drawn out deliberations over whether a written statement of confession is credible will no longer be allowed.
At such times, videotaped questioning sessions would also provide palpable evidence in forming more accurate judgments.
The lay judge system will commence by May 2009. It's time to terminate the old interrogation methods in favor of adopting new approaches.
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 21(IHT/Asahi: March 22,2008)
The Fukuoka District Court on Tuesday rendered a verdict that harshly condemned humiliating tactics used by a former police officer investigating alleged election fraud during voting for the Kagoshima prefectural assembly in 2003.
The presiding judge labeled the actions of the interrogator as "aberrant and illegal" and sentenced him to 10 months in prison, suspended for three years.
At issue was the way the officer forced an innocent suspect to stomp on paper sheets containing the names of his father and grandchildren. The practice is called fumiji.
The defendant, a former assistant inspector with the Kagoshima prefectural police, was found guilty of violating the law against special public servants' abuse of authority through assault or humiliation.
The stomping episode occurred during the inspector's questioning of a hotel operator in the suspected vote-buying case who had submitted to voluntary questioning. When the suspect kept silent, the inspector attempted to get him to talk by writing on sheets of paper the names of his grandchildren and father, as well as the words: "Please become an honest grandfather soon." The sheets were placed on the ground, with the inspector then grasping the man by the ankle and making him tramp directly on the sheets.
The hotel operator felt humiliated at being forced to tread on symbols of respect and love of his family members, causing him severe psychological stress.
The stern verdict was appropriate.
Interrogators found to have committed violent acts against suspects or humiliating them psychologically or physically can face prison terms of up to seven years. Almost all past applications of this law have involved cases of violence. The significance of Tuesday's ruling, which took a harsh view of what the person interrogated suffered psychologically, cannot be overstated.
The problems with the Kagoshima prefectural police in this case are not limited to the stomping incident. It turned out that the hotel operator was not even indicted in the end. The 12 other people eventually charged were later acquitted.
Castigated in the ruling, therefore, were the strong-armed tactics of an investigation that sought indictments through coerced confessions obtained by any possible means.
Investigations that rely on extracting confessions from suspects continue to be fixtures at other police departments as well, posing a serious problem for the nation's law-enforcing authorities at large. In response, the National Police Agency has compiled guidelines for proper investigations, including the monitoring of questioning by police divisions other than the investigation units.
Improving the means used in investigations is easier said than done, however. These are not procedures guaranteed to produce results even when conducted by the book. There may be cases when the interrogation methods need to be adjusted for certain suspects, and sometimes it might be necessary to push and pull.
At the very least, however, techniques that trample on people's feelings or insult them outright cannot be counted upon to dig up the truth. False confessions, furthermore, also run the risk of inviting bogus accusations and convictions.
In past editorials, we have pointed out the critical need to introduce a system for the filming and recording of all stages of criminal interrogations, in order to help avoid a recurrence of cases like this.
Though the NPA continued to drag its feet on this suggestion, it has at last followed in the footsteps of public prosecutors in moving to partially record and film investigations on a trial basis. This is a step in the right direction.
Under the planned citizen judge system to be introduced in 2009, in which citizens will act as judges together with professional judges, intensive hearings will be used to lighten the burden of the lay judges. In cases when defendants choose to deny charges due to what they claim are coerced confessions, the conventional system of long and drawn out deliberations over whether a written statement of confession is credible will no longer be allowed.
At such times, videotaped questioning sessions would also provide palpable evidence in forming more accurate judgments.
The lay judge system will commence by May 2009. It's time to terminate the old interrogation methods in favor of adopting new approaches.
--The Asahi Shimbun, March 21(IHT/Asahi: March 22,2008)
Sunday, March 16, 2008
TOKYO: Officer punished for pulling pistol
03/15/2008
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
Police sent papers to prosecutors Friday on a police officer who pointed his pistol at one of three noisy teenagers and threatened to kill him if they did not move.
The 27-year-old officer, who is assigned to the Takinogawa Police Station in Kita Ward, was suspended from duty for one month by the Metropolitan Police Department.
To expel the 16- and 17-year-olds, he withdrew his pistol from his holster on the night of Feb. 26, leveled it at one of the teenagers and said, "If you do not move, I will kill you."(IHT/Asahi: March 15,2008)
THE ASAHI SHIMBUN
Police sent papers to prosecutors Friday on a police officer who pointed his pistol at one of three noisy teenagers and threatened to kill him if they did not move.
The 27-year-old officer, who is assigned to the Takinogawa Police Station in Kita Ward, was suspended from duty for one month by the Metropolitan Police Department.
To expel the 16- and 17-year-olds, he withdrew his pistol from his holster on the night of Feb. 26, leveled it at one of the teenagers and said, "If you do not move, I will kill you."(IHT/Asahi: March 15,2008)
Detective copied porn seized as evidence, took it home to watch
FUNABASHI, Chiba -- A Chiba Prefectural Police detective is being questioned over allegations that he ordered an underling to copy pornography seized as evidence so he could take it home and watch it, the Mainichi has learned.
Police internal affairs officials are questioning the man, who is now a superintendent overseeing police detainees.
Chiba Prefectural Police are remaining tight-lipped about the case.
"I refuse to comment about cases, including about whether I issued orders (to copy the movies)," the policeman under a cloud told the Mainichi.
Sources close to the case say police seized a cache of porn from a Funabashi wholesaler arrested for possession of indecent materials with intent to sale in September 2006. The detective selected several videos where the genitalia had not been blotted out with a digital mosaic and ordered an assistant inspector working under him to copy them. The videos were copied at the Funabashi Higashi Police Station, with several police officers witnessing the procedure and none of them stopping it from happening.
There is nothing illegal about watching pornographic DVDs copied by a third party, but materials seized as evidence in suspected crimes are controlled by police stations and individuals are strictly forbidden from removing these items.
Takeshi Domoto, a former prosecutor with the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office and now a professor of criminal law at Hakuoh University, said there is a risk the police could have broken the law.
"If he has shown the copied DVD to another person, there is a chance it may constitute proliferation of indecent images," the law expert said. "Police are forbidden from removing evidence for personal use and if the facts behind this case are correct, it suggests considerable laxity."
ＤＶＤ疑惑：刑事官、押収ポルノ複製させ持ち帰る 千葉
千葉県警船橋東署の刑事官だった警視＝現県警留置管理課管理官＝が、事件の証拠品であるポルノＤＶＤを署内で部下にダビングさせ、自宅へ持ち帰っていた疑いがあることが１４日、分かった。県警監察官室は元刑事官らの事情聴取に乗り出した。
関係者によると、ＤＶＤは０６年９月、船橋市の販売業者が同署にわいせつ図画販売目的所持容疑で逮捕された事件に関連して押収された。元刑事官はモザイク処理などをしていないＤＶＤ数本を、捜査を担当した警部補にダビングさせ、観賞用に自分で持ち帰った。ダビングは署内で行われ、複数の警察官が目撃していたが、制止しなかったという。
第三者がポルノＤＶＤをダビングし、個人で観賞するのは違法ではないとされるが、県警が押収した証拠品は、署内の倉庫などでの管理が本部長訓令で定められ、個人の持ち出しは禁止されている。
毎日新聞の取材に対し、元刑事官は「（ダビングを）指示をしたかどうかも含め、事件のことは話せない」と説明している。
▽元最高検検事の土本武司・白鴎大法科大学院教授（刑法）の話 ダビングしたＤＶＤを他人に見せていればわいせつ図画頒布罪の疑いがある。証拠品を私的目的で持ち出すことは禁止されており、事実であれば緊張感の緩みがあったと考えられる。
Mainichi
February 15, 2008
Police internal affairs officials are questioning the man, who is now a superintendent overseeing police detainees.
Chiba Prefectural Police are remaining tight-lipped about the case.
"I refuse to comment about cases, including about whether I issued orders (to copy the movies)," the policeman under a cloud told the Mainichi.
Sources close to the case say police seized a cache of porn from a Funabashi wholesaler arrested for possession of indecent materials with intent to sale in September 2006. The detective selected several videos where the genitalia had not been blotted out with a digital mosaic and ordered an assistant inspector working under him to copy them. The videos were copied at the Funabashi Higashi Police Station, with several police officers witnessing the procedure and none of them stopping it from happening.
There is nothing illegal about watching pornographic DVDs copied by a third party, but materials seized as evidence in suspected crimes are controlled by police stations and individuals are strictly forbidden from removing these items.
Takeshi Domoto, a former prosecutor with the Supreme Public Prosecutors Office and now a professor of criminal law at Hakuoh University, said there is a risk the police could have broken the law.
"If he has shown the copied DVD to another person, there is a chance it may constitute proliferation of indecent images," the law expert said. "Police are forbidden from removing evidence for personal use and if the facts behind this case are correct, it suggests considerable laxity."
ＤＶＤ疑惑：刑事官、押収ポルノ複製させ持ち帰る 千葉
千葉県警船橋東署の刑事官だった警視＝現県警留置管理課管理官＝が、事件の証拠品であるポルノＤＶＤを署内で部下にダビングさせ、自宅へ持ち帰っていた疑いがあることが１４日、分かった。県警監察官室は元刑事官らの事情聴取に乗り出した。
関係者によると、ＤＶＤは０６年９月、船橋市の販売業者が同署にわいせつ図画販売目的所持容疑で逮捕された事件に関連して押収された。元刑事官はモザイク処理などをしていないＤＶＤ数本を、捜査を担当した警部補にダビングさせ、観賞用に自分で持ち帰った。ダビングは署内で行われ、複数の警察官が目撃していたが、制止しなかったという。
第三者がポルノＤＶＤをダビングし、個人で観賞するのは違法ではないとされるが、県警が押収した証拠品は、署内の倉庫などでの管理が本部長訓令で定められ、個人の持ち出しは禁止されている。
毎日新聞の取材に対し、元刑事官は「（ダビングを）指示をしたかどうかも含め、事件のことは話せない」と説明している。
▽元最高検検事の土本武司・白鴎大法科大学院教授（刑法）の話 ダビングしたＤＶＤを他人に見せていればわいせつ図画頒布罪の疑いがある。証拠品を私的目的で持ち出すことは禁止されており、事実であれば緊張感の緩みがあったと考えられる。
Mainichi
February 15, 2008
Cop probed for copying seized obscene DVDs
The Yomiuri Shimbun
CHIBA--A police superintendent of the Chiba Prefectural Police Headquarters has been investigated on suspicion that he copied motion pictures from confiscated obscene DVDs and took them home, police sources said Saturday.
The officer, currently a director in the headquarters' division for detention cell control, is alleged to have copied the DVDs when he was a senior criminal investigator at Funabashi-Higashi Police Station.
Bringing out or copying evidence materials for private purposes are prohibited by an order from the prefectural police chief. The headquarters' inspector's office was investigating and considering whether to punish him, according to the sources.
The office suspected that the officer, who is in his 40s, copied data from several of the 7,000 DVDs that were confiscated from a rental video shop in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, in September 2006.
(Mar. 16, 2008)
CHIBA--A police superintendent of the Chiba Prefectural Police Headquarters has been investigated on suspicion that he copied motion pictures from confiscated obscene DVDs and took them home, police sources said Saturday.
The officer, currently a director in the headquarters' division for detention cell control, is alleged to have copied the DVDs when he was a senior criminal investigator at Funabashi-Higashi Police Station.
Bringing out or copying evidence materials for private purposes are prohibited by an order from the prefectural police chief. The headquarters' inspector's office was investigating and considering whether to punish him, according to the sources.
The office suspected that the officer, who is in his 40s, copied data from several of the 7,000 DVDs that were confiscated from a rental video shop in Funabashi, Chiba Prefecture, in September 2006.
(Mar. 16, 2008)
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Aichi cop arrested for swindling housewife
NAGOYA -- A police officer and his girlfriend were arrested on Tuesday for swindling a housewife out of 500,000 yen, police said.
Osami Kojima, 52, an assistant inspector at Anjo Police Station, and his girlfriend Mie Murase, 38, both residents of Tokai, Aichi Prefecture, stand accused of fraud.
Kojima has admitted to the allegations, saying, "I wanted money to enjoy myself," while Murase has given ambiguous statements, police said.
After learning that the 40-year-old housewife was having problems with a male acquaintance, Kojima called her, pretending to be him and asking her for cash, on Aug. 17 and 18, investigators allege.
The housewife consulted with Murase over the trouble, who told her, "You'd better just pay him off and not tell the police about it." Murase then told the victim that she would give the male acquaintance his "settlement money", and had the housewife transfer 500,000 yen to her account.
The housewife filed a criminal complaint with police in September last year, and the prefectural police suspected Kojima's involvement in the case. Kojima submitted a letter of resignation in December, but the prefectural police refused his request as he was likely to be subject to punishment.
"It is very regrettable that an incumbent police officer was arrested on fraud charges, and we deeply apologize to the prefectural residents," said Hiroshi Saito, head of the police affairs department of the Aichi Prefectural Police.
Kojima was employed as policeman in April 1979 and has worked for the security division of Anjo Police Station since October 2005.
詐欺：警部補が女と共謀 主婦から５０万円詐取 愛知
愛知県警安城署の警察官が交際相手の女と共謀して女の知人から５０万円をだまし取ったとして、県警は１１日、同県東海市横須賀町、同署警備課警部補、小島修身（おさみ）容疑者（５２）と、同市名和町３、無職、村瀬三恵容疑者（３８）を詐欺容疑で逮捕した。小島容疑者は女性のトラブルに付け込み女性を脅迫する一方、相談相手を装い、現金をだまし取ったという。
調べによると、小島容疑者は村瀬容疑者の知人の名古屋市南区の主婦（４０）を脅すなどして、０７年８月３１日午前７時半ごろ、村瀬容疑者の銀行口座に５０万円を振り込ませてだまし取った疑い。小島容疑者は「遊ぶ金がほしかった」と容疑を認め、村瀬容疑者はあいまいな供述をしているという。県警は安城署や小島容疑者の自宅などを家宅捜索する方針。
小島容疑者は、主婦が知人男性とのトラブルを抱えていることを知り、この男性になりすまし、同月１７日と１８日、主婦に「落とし前を付けろ」などと電話で現金を要求。一方、主婦から相談を受けた村瀬容疑者は同１８日、小島容疑者とともに主婦に会って「お金で解決できるならそうしたほうがいい。警察には言わないほうがいい」と「助言」。村瀬容疑者が現金を用意して知人男性に渡したように装い、村瀬容疑者の口座へ現金を振り込ませた。小島容疑者は自身が警察官であることを隠していた。
主婦は同年９月、被害届を提出。県警の捜査で、小島容疑者の関与が浮上した。小島容疑者は１２月、辞職願いを提出したが、県警は「処分対象になる可能性がある」として受理を保留していた。小島容疑者は７９年４月に採用され、０５年１０月から安城署警備課。【米川直己】
▽斉藤寛・警務部長の話 現職警察官が詐欺の罪で逮捕される事態に至ったことは誠に遺憾であり、県民に深くおわび申し上げる。
Mainichi
March 11, 2008
Osami Kojima, 52, an assistant inspector at Anjo Police Station, and his girlfriend Mie Murase, 38, both residents of Tokai, Aichi Prefecture, stand accused of fraud.
Kojima has admitted to the allegations, saying, "I wanted money to enjoy myself," while Murase has given ambiguous statements, police said.
After learning that the 40-year-old housewife was having problems with a male acquaintance, Kojima called her, pretending to be him and asking her for cash, on Aug. 17 and 18, investigators allege.
The housewife consulted with Murase over the trouble, who told her, "You'd better just pay him off and not tell the police about it." Murase then told the victim that she would give the male acquaintance his "settlement money", and had the housewife transfer 500,000 yen to her account.
The housewife filed a criminal complaint with police in September last year, and the prefectural police suspected Kojima's involvement in the case. Kojima submitted a letter of resignation in December, but the prefectural police refused his request as he was likely to be subject to punishment.
"It is very regrettable that an incumbent police officer was arrested on fraud charges, and we deeply apologize to the prefectural residents," said Hiroshi Saito, head of the police affairs department of the Aichi Prefectural Police.
Kojima was employed as policeman in April 1979 and has worked for the security division of Anjo Police Station since October 2005.
詐欺：警部補が女と共謀 主婦から５０万円詐取 愛知
愛知県警安城署の警察官が交際相手の女と共謀して女の知人から５０万円をだまし取ったとして、県警は１１日、同県東海市横須賀町、同署警備課警部補、小島修身（おさみ）容疑者（５２）と、同市名和町３、無職、村瀬三恵容疑者（３８）を詐欺容疑で逮捕した。小島容疑者は女性のトラブルに付け込み女性を脅迫する一方、相談相手を装い、現金をだまし取ったという。
調べによると、小島容疑者は村瀬容疑者の知人の名古屋市南区の主婦（４０）を脅すなどして、０７年８月３１日午前７時半ごろ、村瀬容疑者の銀行口座に５０万円を振り込ませてだまし取った疑い。小島容疑者は「遊ぶ金がほしかった」と容疑を認め、村瀬容疑者はあいまいな供述をしているという。県警は安城署や小島容疑者の自宅などを家宅捜索する方針。
小島容疑者は、主婦が知人男性とのトラブルを抱えていることを知り、この男性になりすまし、同月１７日と１８日、主婦に「落とし前を付けろ」などと電話で現金を要求。一方、主婦から相談を受けた村瀬容疑者は同１８日、小島容疑者とともに主婦に会って「お金で解決できるならそうしたほうがいい。警察には言わないほうがいい」と「助言」。村瀬容疑者が現金を用意して知人男性に渡したように装い、村瀬容疑者の口座へ現金を振り込ませた。小島容疑者は自身が警察官であることを隠していた。
主婦は同年９月、被害届を提出。県警の捜査で、小島容疑者の関与が浮上した。小島容疑者は１２月、辞職願いを提出したが、県警は「処分対象になる可能性がある」として受理を保留していた。小島容疑者は７９年４月に採用され、０５年１０月から安城署警備課。【米川直己】
▽斉藤寛・警務部長の話 現職警察官が詐欺の罪で逮捕される事態に至ったことは誠に遺憾であり、県民に深くおわび申し上げる。
Mainichi
March 11, 2008
Police station chief demoted for yanking woman's skirt at wedding
SAGA -- A police station head has been reprimanded for repeatedly pulling the skirt of a woman at a wedding reception and touching the shoulder of another woman on a bus in mid-January, prefectural police officials said.
Shigenori Enjoji, 58, director of Imari Police Station, has been relieved from his post and is expected to resign from the force at the end of this month.
However, prefectural police have stopped short of recognizing his actions as molestation or sexual harassment on the grounds that the women do not feel they were molested or harassed by him.
Enjoji apologized for his actions during questioning. "I'm sorry about what I did. I was slightly drunk and was fooling around too much," he was quoted as telling his bosses in reference to his actions at the wedding reception.
Enjoji pulled the skirt of a woman during a wedding reception in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, in mid-January, officials said. He reportedly continued his actions even after another police officer who attended the reception attempted to stop him. Enjoji is also accused of touching the shoulder of a woman on a bus on the way home from the party.
He was not acquainted with his victims, police said.
佐賀県警：署長が女性のスカート引っ張り厳重注意
佐賀県警伊万里署の円城寺重憲署長（５８）が１月中旬、同県唐津市であった結婚披露宴で、女性のスカートを引っ張ったり、帰りのバスの中で別の女性の肩を触るなど、セクシュアルハラスメント（性的いやがらせ）とも受け取れる行為をしていたことが分かった。
県警は１０日、「不適切な行為」として円城寺署長を口頭厳重注意とした。円城寺署長は既に辞職願を提出しており、署長を解任された。退職願は３１日付で受理される見通し。
県警によると、円城寺署長は来賓として披露宴に出席。ウエディングケーキ入刀前後に面識のない女性のスカートを引っ張った。一緒に出席した警察官が止めた後も繰り返したという。さらに、帰りのバスの中で、前席に座った女性に「お疲れさま」などと声をかけ、肩を触った。女性が「痛い」と訴えたため、肩から手を離した。
円城寺署長はスカートの件については「酔いもあり、ふざけてしまった」と釈明。肩を触ったことについては「コミュニケーションのつもりだった」と弁解しているという。県警の事情聴取に事実関係を認め「申し訳ない」と話しているという。
県警は「女性の被害感情がない」などとして、わいせつやセクハラ行為とは認めないとしている。県警の糸山正文首席監察官は「職員指導を徹底したい」と話した。【高芝菜穂子】
Mainichi
March 11, 2008
Shigenori Enjoji, 58, director of Imari Police Station, has been relieved from his post and is expected to resign from the force at the end of this month.
However, prefectural police have stopped short of recognizing his actions as molestation or sexual harassment on the grounds that the women do not feel they were molested or harassed by him.
Enjoji apologized for his actions during questioning. "I'm sorry about what I did. I was slightly drunk and was fooling around too much," he was quoted as telling his bosses in reference to his actions at the wedding reception.
Enjoji pulled the skirt of a woman during a wedding reception in Karatsu, Saga Prefecture, in mid-January, officials said. He reportedly continued his actions even after another police officer who attended the reception attempted to stop him. Enjoji is also accused of touching the shoulder of a woman on a bus on the way home from the party.
He was not acquainted with his victims, police said.
佐賀県警：署長が女性のスカート引っ張り厳重注意
佐賀県警伊万里署の円城寺重憲署長（５８）が１月中旬、同県唐津市であった結婚披露宴で、女性のスカートを引っ張ったり、帰りのバスの中で別の女性の肩を触るなど、セクシュアルハラスメント（性的いやがらせ）とも受け取れる行為をしていたことが分かった。
県警は１０日、「不適切な行為」として円城寺署長を口頭厳重注意とした。円城寺署長は既に辞職願を提出しており、署長を解任された。退職願は３１日付で受理される見通し。
県警によると、円城寺署長は来賓として披露宴に出席。ウエディングケーキ入刀前後に面識のない女性のスカートを引っ張った。一緒に出席した警察官が止めた後も繰り返したという。さらに、帰りのバスの中で、前席に座った女性に「お疲れさま」などと声をかけ、肩を触った。女性が「痛い」と訴えたため、肩から手を離した。
円城寺署長はスカートの件については「酔いもあり、ふざけてしまった」と釈明。肩を触ったことについては「コミュニケーションのつもりだった」と弁解しているという。県警の事情聴取に事実関係を認め「申し訳ない」と話しているという。
県警は「女性の被害感情がない」などとして、わいせつやセクハラ行為とは認めないとしている。県警の糸山正文首席監察官は「職員指導を徹底したい」と話した。【高芝菜穂子】
Mainichi
March 11, 2008
Saturday, March 8, 2008
Man arrested after cooperating in sting operation files damages lawsuit
SAGA -- A man who alerted police that his friends were planning a robbery and participated in a sting operation, only to be arrested and detained, has sued the Saga Prefectural Government, demanding damages.
Kazuhiro Hara, 36, is demanding 3.3 million yen in compensation from the prefectural government in the lawsuit filed in the Saga District Court. The lawsuit says he was detained, despite cooperating in the police investigation, and that police gave a false report after his arrest.
Hara learned that his friends were planning a robbery on July 21, 2007, and purchased a balaclava as they instructed him. However, he reported the planned crime to police on July 28.
When investigators heard about the scheme from Hara, one of them told him, "We want you to go ahead with it as planned." At the time, Hara wasn't intending to commit a robbery, and had removed the robbery equipment -- a crowbar and balaclava -- from his vehicle. When he asked if that was all right, police told him they needed him to have the equipment in the vehicle, so he replaced the items.
That afternoon, Hara drove to an area near a house that his friends were targeting, where police arrested him along with three others. On July 29, police announced they had arrested five people, including Hara, on suspicion of preparing for a robbery.
In his lawsuit, Hara said he had not acted deliberately in preparing for the robbery, and the reason he drove out in his car was that police had asked him to. He added that the police statement to the media about his arrest, with regard to him, was false.
"He was made to participate in an illegal sting operation," a lawyer for Hara said.
A prefectural police spokesman commenting on the case defended investigators' actions.
"Suspicious of preparing for a robbery arose at the time he bought the balaclava, and the arrest was appropriate. The arrest and announcement were done to ensure that the other four people didn't find out that he had reported the matter to police, and were aimed at protecting him," the police official said.
おとり捜査：佐賀県警に協力も逮捕 起訴猶予の男性提訴
佐賀県警に昨年７月に強盗予備の疑いで逮捕された後、起訴猶予となった佐賀市兵庫町渕の中古車販売業、原一弘さん（３６）が７日、「捜査に協力したのに身柄を拘束され、虚偽の発表をされた」として、県に３３０万円の損害賠償を求めて佐賀地裁に提訴した。
訴状などによると、原さんは０７年７月２１日、友人らが強盗を計画していることを知り、指示され目出し帽を購入した。しかし、犯行をやめさせようと同２８日、佐賀署に計画を知らせた。
捜査員は、原さんの話を聞くと「予定通り（計画を）進めてほしい」と要請。当時、原さんは強盗をしようと思っておらず、車からバールや目出し帽を降ろしていた。そのままでいいかを尋ねたところ、捜査員から「載せておいてくれないと困る」などと言われ、再び車に戻したという。
原さんは同日午後、友人が狙っていた民家近くに車で行って他の３人と共に逮捕された。佐賀署は２９日、強盗予備の疑いで原さんを含む５人を逮捕したと発表した。
原さん側は訴状で「強盗予備には故意性がないうえ、車で出かけたのも警察から求められたため」と主張。そのうえで「（他の逮捕者と）共犯関係になることはあり得ない。記者発表は原告に関しては虚偽だ」としている。原さんの弁護士は「違法なおとり捜査に協力させられた」と話している。
県警刑事部の江口民雄管理官は「目出し帽を買った時点で強盗予備容疑があり、逮捕は適正だった。逮捕や発表には、他の４人に通報したことを分からなくする身辺保護の狙いがあった」と話している。【高芝菜穂子】
Mainichi
March 8, 2008
Kazuhiro Hara, 36, is demanding 3.3 million yen in compensation from the prefectural government in the lawsuit filed in the Saga District Court. The lawsuit says he was detained, despite cooperating in the police investigation, and that police gave a false report after his arrest.
Hara learned that his friends were planning a robbery on July 21, 2007, and purchased a balaclava as they instructed him. However, he reported the planned crime to police on July 28.
When investigators heard about the scheme from Hara, one of them told him, "We want you to go ahead with it as planned." At the time, Hara wasn't intending to commit a robbery, and had removed the robbery equipment -- a crowbar and balaclava -- from his vehicle. When he asked if that was all right, police told him they needed him to have the equipment in the vehicle, so he replaced the items.
That afternoon, Hara drove to an area near a house that his friends were targeting, where police arrested him along with three others. On July 29, police announced they had arrested five people, including Hara, on suspicion of preparing for a robbery.
In his lawsuit, Hara said he had not acted deliberately in preparing for the robbery, and the reason he drove out in his car was that police had asked him to. He added that the police statement to the media about his arrest, with regard to him, was false.
"He was made to participate in an illegal sting operation," a lawyer for Hara said.
A prefectural police spokesman commenting on the case defended investigators' actions.
"Suspicious of preparing for a robbery arose at the time he bought the balaclava, and the arrest was appropriate. The arrest and announcement were done to ensure that the other four people didn't find out that he had reported the matter to police, and were aimed at protecting him," the police official said.
おとり捜査：佐賀県警に協力も逮捕 起訴猶予の男性提訴
佐賀県警に昨年７月に強盗予備の疑いで逮捕された後、起訴猶予となった佐賀市兵庫町渕の中古車販売業、原一弘さん（３６）が７日、「捜査に協力したのに身柄を拘束され、虚偽の発表をされた」として、県に３３０万円の損害賠償を求めて佐賀地裁に提訴した。
訴状などによると、原さんは０７年７月２１日、友人らが強盗を計画していることを知り、指示され目出し帽を購入した。しかし、犯行をやめさせようと同２８日、佐賀署に計画を知らせた。
捜査員は、原さんの話を聞くと「予定通り（計画を）進めてほしい」と要請。当時、原さんは強盗をしようと思っておらず、車からバールや目出し帽を降ろしていた。そのままでいいかを尋ねたところ、捜査員から「載せておいてくれないと困る」などと言われ、再び車に戻したという。
原さんは同日午後、友人が狙っていた民家近くに車で行って他の３人と共に逮捕された。佐賀署は２９日、強盗予備の疑いで原さんを含む５人を逮捕したと発表した。
原さん側は訴状で「強盗予備には故意性がないうえ、車で出かけたのも警察から求められたため」と主張。そのうえで「（他の逮捕者と）共犯関係になることはあり得ない。記者発表は原告に関しては虚偽だ」としている。原さんの弁護士は「違法なおとり捜査に協力させられた」と話している。
県警刑事部の江口民雄管理官は「目出し帽を買った時点で強盗予備容疑があり、逮捕は適正だった。逮捕や発表には、他の４人に通報したことを分からなくする身辺保護の狙いがあった」と話している。【高芝菜穂子】
Mainichi
March 8, 2008
High-handed Tokyo cop busted for abusing power to get free massages
A police officer has been arrested for forcing a masseuse to give him a massage free of charge by threatening to accuse her of illegal business practices, Tokyo police officials said Saturday.
Kazuzo Watanabe, 57, an assistant inspector at the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), stands accused of compulsion and abuse of authority as a public officer.
The MPD is apologetic about the incident. "It was an act unworthy of a police officer. We apologize to the victim and intend to take strict punitive measures against the officer," an MPD spokesman said.
Watanabe summoned the woman to a police station in October and told her to give him her mobile phone number and e-mail address, telling her that the information was necessary to confirm the legitimacy of her business practices, MPD officials said.
He then threatened to report her business to prosecutors for illegal business practices, and received massages from her on two occasions without paying, according to investigators.
Watanabe subsequently sent her more than 10 e-mails to her asking her to date him, forcing the woman to close her business.
強要：警視庁警部補が女性脅し無料マッサージ 交際も迫る
警視庁は７日、女性を脅して無料でマッサージをさせたなどとして、蔵前署刑事生活安全組織犯罪対策課係長（警部補）、渡辺和三（かずぞう）容疑者（５７）＝東京都狛江市岩戸南４＝を強要と公務員職権乱用容疑で逮捕したと発表した。
調べでは、渡辺容疑者は昨年１０月、マッサージ店（台東区）経営の３０代女性を署に呼び出し、営業実態の把握を装い携帯電話の番号やメールアドレスを聞き出した。「取り締まるぞ」などと脅し、一般マッサージを２回無料でさせた疑い。
渡辺容疑者は交際に応じるよう迫り、十数回メールを送信していた。女性は「警察を敵に回したくなかった」などと話しているという。ショックなどから閉店した。
▽中村格警務部参事官の話 警察官にあるまじき行為で極めて遺憾だ。被害者におわびするとともに、厳正に対処したい。
Mainichi
March 7, 2008
Kazuzo Watanabe, 57, an assistant inspector at the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), stands accused of compulsion and abuse of authority as a public officer.
The MPD is apologetic about the incident. "It was an act unworthy of a police officer. We apologize to the victim and intend to take strict punitive measures against the officer," an MPD spokesman said.
Watanabe summoned the woman to a police station in October and told her to give him her mobile phone number and e-mail address, telling her that the information was necessary to confirm the legitimacy of her business practices, MPD officials said.
He then threatened to report her business to prosecutors for illegal business practices, and received massages from her on two occasions without paying, according to investigators.
Watanabe subsequently sent her more than 10 e-mails to her asking her to date him, forcing the woman to close her business.
強要：警視庁警部補が女性脅し無料マッサージ 交際も迫る
警視庁は７日、女性を脅して無料でマッサージをさせたなどとして、蔵前署刑事生活安全組織犯罪対策課係長（警部補）、渡辺和三（かずぞう）容疑者（５７）＝東京都狛江市岩戸南４＝を強要と公務員職権乱用容疑で逮捕したと発表した。
調べでは、渡辺容疑者は昨年１０月、マッサージ店（台東区）経営の３０代女性を署に呼び出し、営業実態の把握を装い携帯電話の番号やメールアドレスを聞き出した。「取り締まるぞ」などと脅し、一般マッサージを２回無料でさせた疑い。
渡辺容疑者は交際に応じるよう迫り、十数回メールを送信していた。女性は「警察を敵に回したくなかった」などと話しているという。ショックなどから閉店した。
▽中村格警務部参事官の話 警察官にあるまじき行為で極めて遺憾だ。被害者におわびするとともに、厳正に対処したい。
Mainichi
March 7, 2008
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
Police investigator suspected of peeping into neighbor's home
FUKUOKA -- A police investigator arrested for sneaking onto the balcony of a neighboring apartment is suspected of peeping into the victim's home, investigators said.
Kozo Yanaga, 31, a senior officer at Fukuoka Prefectural Police's second investigation division, stands accused of trespassing. Prefectural police are grilling him over the motives for his crime.
Yanaga sneaked onto the balcony of a public servant's apartment next to his room in Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, on a number of occasions between the night of Feb. 24 and the morning of Feb. 26, local police said.
The civil servant in his 30s and his wife reported to police that a beer can containing cigarette butts was abandoned on the balcony of their apartment. Prefectural police arrested Yanaga after matching his DNA with that on the cigarette butts.
Yanaga is single and lived in the apartment alone, according to the prefectural police's inspection office.
警官侵入：隣家のベランダに のぞき見目的か 福岡
福岡県警監察官室は３日、自宅マンションの隣室のベランダに侵入したとして、福岡市東区貝塚団地、県警捜査２課巡査長、弥永耕三容疑者（３１）を住居侵入容疑で逮捕した。監察官室はのぞき目的だった可能性もあるとみて調べている。
調べでは、弥永容疑者は２月２４日午後７時～２６日午前１１時ごろ、マンション４階自室の隣に住む３０代の男性公務員方のベランダに侵入した疑い。公務員夫婦が２７日夜、「ベランダに覚えのないたばこの吸い殻が入ったビール缶が置いてある」と福岡・東署に届け出た。その後の捜査で吸い殻などに付着した唾液などのＤＮＡ型が弥永容疑者のものと一致した。監察官室によると、弥永容疑者は独身で１人暮らし。
Mainichi
March 4, 2008
Kozo Yanaga, 31, a senior officer at Fukuoka Prefectural Police's second investigation division, stands accused of trespassing. Prefectural police are grilling him over the motives for his crime.
Yanaga sneaked onto the balcony of a public servant's apartment next to his room in Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, on a number of occasions between the night of Feb. 24 and the morning of Feb. 26, local police said.
The civil servant in his 30s and his wife reported to police that a beer can containing cigarette butts was abandoned on the balcony of their apartment. Prefectural police arrested Yanaga after matching his DNA with that on the cigarette butts.
Yanaga is single and lived in the apartment alone, according to the prefectural police's inspection office.
警官侵入：隣家のベランダに のぞき見目的か 福岡
福岡県警監察官室は３日、自宅マンションの隣室のベランダに侵入したとして、福岡市東区貝塚団地、県警捜査２課巡査長、弥永耕三容疑者（３１）を住居侵入容疑で逮捕した。監察官室はのぞき目的だった可能性もあるとみて調べている。
調べでは、弥永容疑者は２月２４日午後７時～２６日午前１１時ごろ、マンション４階自室の隣に住む３０代の男性公務員方のベランダに侵入した疑い。公務員夫婦が２７日夜、「ベランダに覚えのないたばこの吸い殻が入ったビール缶が置いてある」と福岡・東署に届け出た。その後の捜査で吸い殻などに付着した唾液などのＤＮＡ型が弥永容疑者のものと一致した。監察官室によると、弥永容疑者は独身で１人暮らし。
Mainichi
March 4, 2008
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