A 32-year-old police sergeant working in the Railway Police Force Special Operations Division of the Saitama Prefectural Police has been arrested on suspicion of indecent assault.
According to police, Koji Tono is accused of entering the house of a woman in her 20s in Minami Ward, Saitama City, on Aug 26, by pretending to be a real estate agent, Fuji TV reported. He then allegedly groped the woman and sexually assaulted her.
Police said the suspect, who had the day off work, has partly denied the charge. He was quoted as saying, “I entered the house under false pretenses but did not touch the woman’s body.”
The woman said she does not know Tono.
The Special Operations Division of the Railway Police Force where Tono works is in charge of preventing crimes such as theft and groping inside trains and at stations.
© Japan Today
16 Comments
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Brian Wheway
This sort of allegation does not do the polices image any good.
shogun36
Well, good to see he is creating business for his division..................
Ah, I misread this part.
INISDE the trains and stations, which doesn't include a person's house. Pretty sneaky guy there......maybe he deserves a raise instead for thinking outside of the box?
Alfie Noakes
Another day, another rapist in uniform.
Kestrel
Now, just because this keeps happening doesnt reflect on the japanese police.
Zack
@Alfie Noakes
most of times they come in suits as middle aged salary men
Do the hustle
so what were your intentions creep?
oldman_13
Good lord, it's bad enough Japanese women have to deal with random gropers.
girl_in_tokyo
This is why I tell women to take a Japanese friend with them when they have to report sexual assault.
Preferably a male friend who is assertive enough to advocate for them, as well as act as a witness to the police's behavior during the investigation.
Chip Star
Given there is no indication that the victim previously reported a sexual assault and the fact that she reported this one, I have to ask: What are you talking about?
Your comment is absolutely irrelevant to this article because there is no indication this woman became a victim because she reported being sexually assaulted.
girl_in_tokyo
I'm pointing out that within the Japanese police agency, there are a number of officers who are themselves sexual predators. This is to be expected, since sexual predators come in all ages and occupations.
The existence of sexual predators even within sex crimes unit indicates that there are some officers who cannot be trusted and will likely be biased when a woman reports sexual assault.
In addition, my experience and the reported experience of others, some of whom have had their cases highly publicized, indicate there is a problem with the reporting and prosecution of sex crimes in Japan. Foreigners in particular are going to have problems navigating this system, due to linguistic and cultural barriers.
Since Japan is a highly patriarchal society, bringing a male friend with you to the police box when reporting a sex crime will lend credence as well as help smooth out any linguistic or cultural barriers. In addition, that friend can act as an advocate and a witness in case there are discrepancies, problematic questioning techniques, counter-accusations, or other indications of bias on the part of the male police officers.
I'm sorry, but your comment is nonsensical. Since the man was arrested, it seems clear that she was a victim of sexual assault. In Japan, arrests are not made unless the prosecution is 100% sure they can get a conviction. That is how Japan maintains its 98% conviction rate. In addition, there is no other reason for a strange man to tell a lie in order to illegal gain entrance to a woman's house.
He was not there to bake cookies.
Chip Star
Girl:
Thanks for the response. Agreed with your points about sexual predators being members of the police and Jaoanese mysoginistcs ways.
Your initial post seemed to be implying that this lady became a victim of this officer because she had reported an early assault. Does that clear up my comment?
JJ Jetplane
Then why enter her home? Also, I think, in Japan, all his actions have much worst consequences than sexual assault.
doel jusino
This dude is SICK and needs to get fired since he can't be trusted as a police officer, and who would ever hired him again for any type of work ???? If he's married get ready for a divorce dude. Future Homeless Man in the making .....
BackpackingNepal
Then the story further goes on...'he handcuffed himself in her house so that he wants her to do something on him' (which is why he did not touch her).
His stalking plan was successful but not the real action, that could be anything from proposal to abuse. (But she might also be exaggerating for compensation)
garypen
Huh? Where did it say this?
Michael Machida
Police Force Special Operations Division. That just make me laugh. Hard.