Police in Ginowan, Okinawa Prefecture, have arrested a 30-year-old man on suspicion of murder after he allegedly placed a woman’s body on the road where she was fatally hit by a taxi.
According to police, Katsuya Koja, a construction worker, is accused of leaving Mayumi Tamaki, 58, lying face up on National Route 58, at around 2 a.m. on January 27, Kyodo News reported. Just before Tamaki was hit by the taxi, a passerby called 110 to report that a man was dragging a woman who seemed unable to walk onto the road.
According to investigators, Koja and Tamaki had been drinking at a bar until late at night on Jan 26. They then took a taxi to the area where the witness saw Tamaki being dragged onto the road. Police believe Tamaki was too intoxicated to walk.
There was little light at the scene, and the taxi driver who hit the woman told police he didn’t see her until it was too late.
Police said their investigation has revealed that Koja and Tamaki were involved in a financial dispute, in which they were consulted four times in January alone. On the last occasion, Tamaki said Koja had assaulted her and police gave him a verbal warning.
Koja was arrested on Feb 1 on suspicion of threatening an acquaintance in another matter.
© Japan Today
14 Comments
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Yubaru
And just what do you expect the police to do under the circumstances?
Within the guidelines of JAPANESE law, what should they have done?
DDK
Who wrote this article?
the guy didn’t leave a body on the road, he left a woman on the road where she was fatally hit by a taxi.
talking about a body fatally hit by a taxi doesn’t make sense.
smithinjapan
Yubaru: "And just what do you expect the police to do under the circumstances?"
Ummm... after a physical assault on top of four warnings about finances that had led to fights? Maybe a little more than wait for a corpse?
Hawk
There appears to be some inconsistency in the police's reactions here. A verbal warning for assault, but arrest for a threat? Obviously, there's not much to go on, here. But it seems the cops could have done more.
Maybe there was no proof of the assault, or Tamara (Tamaki?) didn't want to press formal charges or something.
Redemption
I don’t know what to say.
deanzaZZR
@Redemption Lock him up and throw away the key.
Yubaru
Where's the proof of the assault? Where does it state she pressed charges? With no charges pressed what are they going to arrest him for? Her "word"?
There is plenty wrong with the story, and it does not provide anywhere close to a reasonable explanation for any of it The story itself reads like a hot and run accident.
Locally the news isnt any better either.
Politik Kills
Great work flat-feet, a verbal warning for assault, after repeated consultations. They don’t employ the brightest people for the police here.
timeon
While accusations of assault should never be taken lightly, I don't know what the police can do, especially when the victim went out drinking until late with the presumable aggressor. And the story obviously lacks many crucial details.
John
There’s nothing police could have done. She was still with him and they were drinking together. If she was having serious arguments, she should have left him.
Jind
Unbelievable that the police lets lose an assailant 4 times and eventually resulted in murder.
The Police also needs to be investigated.
masterblaster
The police failed this woman.
John
I wonder What the business of a 58yo woman was with a 30yo man.
justsomeguy8008
Man I feel bad for the taxi guy, he was just doing his job and bam unwittingly commits man slaughter. He must be traumatized.