Couple arrested for kidnapping online game acquaintance

A husband and wife in Tokyo have been arrested for allegedly kidnapping a male acquaintance in his 20s, whom they met via an online game. The couple, Natsuki Ito, 39, and his wife Hideko, 34, received 800,000 yen in ransom money from the victim’s parents, Fuji TV reported.

The suspects have been charged with abduction and unlawful confinement resulting in injury, police said. Ito is currently unemployed.

According to police, the Itos became acquainted with their victim online in February and in March, kidnapped him in Nagaoka City, Niigata Prefecture, and drove him to Tokyo. The victim was held hostage in the couple’s car for one day, and when he attempted to escape, Ito restrained him by choking him.

Following the abduction, the victim’s parents paid the couple 800,000 yen in cash as ransom.

However, the following day, while the vehicle was parked in Tokyo’s Taito Ward, the man managed to successfully flee and seek help from a police car.

Police said Ito and his wife have denied the charges.

© Japan Today