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Choji Murata, 72, a former professional baseball pitcher for Lotte, was released from custody on Sunday after he was arrested for assaulting a female security inspector in her 30s at Tokyo’s Haneda airport.
However, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s airport division said it will continue investigating the alleged assault with Murata’s consent, Kyodo News reported. After his release on Sunday, Murata bowed deeply to the media outside a police station in Tokyo. “I want to sincerely apologize to the woman. I would also like to deeply apologize to my many fans and children,” he said.
According to police and airport officials, Murata allegedly shoved the inspector’s left shoulder with his right hand at a security checkpoint at the airport on Sept 23. He initially denied the charge by claiming he never touched the woman's shoulder.
While attempting to pass through the security checkpoint, Murata held his cell phone which repeatedly set off the metal detector. Investigators suspect that this was the cause of the trouble between Murata and the inspector.
Murata retired from pro baseball in 1990 with 215 wins.
© Japan Today
13 Comments
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Dave Fair
the prestige of being a respected former professional baseball pitcher gave him that special talent or I would term it, perceived privilege.
finally rich
Yes
No
Mark
Sure, released so soon !?? Someone must have made that famous phone call.
Hi, regarding Mr. Murata, Hai(yes sir) Let him go, Hai(yes sir).
toolonggone
AustPaulSep. 26 06:49 pm JST
Why do they need the consent of the offender to investigate his actions? I’m absolutely stumped!
It's probably just a bad translation and should say "cooperation".
factchecker
Was he born an idiot or did he have to learn his special talent?
TokyoLiving
Why discriminate people by age??..
Get a life !!..
Nicolò
Assaulting a women = shove her shoulder.
Oh disappointed..
Sal Affist
I know if any of us foreigners had pushed her, we certainly would not have been released so quickly. Probably he was released at the direction of a senior NPA official who secretly wanted an autograph.
tamanegi
If the security officer had been a Japanese male he wouldn't have caused a problem.
Ken Holcomb
I'm 67. It's not age that prompts these ignorant events. It's arrogance spawned from a myth that age is wisdom. It is, of course, NOT! Wisdom is developed through a variety of experience, personal failure and success.
Always blaming the "ojisan" specter is nothing more than age bigotry.
Zizi
Another grumpy, ridiculous ojisan.
Get a life!
AustPaul
“However, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department’s airport division said it will continue investigating the alleged assault with Murata’s consent”
Why do they need the consent of the offender to investigate his actions? I’m absolutely stumped!
NCIS Reruns
One more chapter in the story of the cell phone stupidity epidemic. Sure am glad I don't have one.