Police said Wednesday they have arrested a man for violation of child welfare laws after he allegedly forced his 11-year-old son to beg on the street in Suita, Osaka.
According to TBS, the 33-year-old man, a construction worker, reportedly told his son that if he stood on the sidewalk and told passersby that he had lost his wallet, they would feel sorry for him and give him money. During police questioning, the boy told investigators that he begged five or six times since August, collecting about 2,000 yen, which he gave to his father, TBS said.
The incident leading to the man's arrest took place on Sept 12 at around 9:25 p.m. The boy is alleged to have asked a 31-year-old woman for some spare change. Police say the woman gave him 200 yen. According to police, the boy's father was waiting in a parked car with the boy's siblings, watching the proceedings.
However, authorities were keeping an eye on the boy after a similar incident was reported just days before, TBS said. When officers moved in and asked the man to accompany them for questioning, he allegedly attempted to abandon his eldest son and flee the scene. Police said that when the boy was taken into custody, he said his father hadn't done anything wrong.
The boy's father has denied making his son beg, and was quoted by police as saying that he did it of his own accord, TBS reported.
© Japan Today
36 Comments
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NeoJamal
Since when did the poor and unemployed get generous benefits?
WilliB
This is just so pathetic on so many levels. Makes me only sad.
Riffraff
2000 yen since August? He could have gotten more in change from the coin return of vending machines that people forgot to pick up.
nath
You gotta pick a pocket or two, boys...
Samantha Zoe Aso
&It's Me. I saw cars cruise by the local koban everyday with young kids, toddlers jumping around unrestrained inside. Have even seen one nice police chap wave at kids jumping and screaming around in the front seat. What about the tragic case in Osaka last summer where two toddlers's skeletal remains were found in an apartment. Quite a few calls were made to Welfare who didn't even try to call in the police or find out who was living in the apartment.
Elbuda Mexicano
This is very common in 3rd world countries, to get adults to force their kids to beg for $$$ not food, because in the case of Mexico, the lazy, alcoholic, or drug addicted parents can not barter tacos for cocaine etc..I hope this was not the case in Osaka, but I do hope the Japanese politicians begin to understand how bad the Japanese economy is, but maybe it will be only wishful thinking on my part.
Kevin Lee Brooke
Coward.
bogva
Hmm, what's most strange for me in this story is that this "mild" begging was actually reported by someone. Then police was on alert like there is no better things to do or catch real criminals.
In my home country you are all the time approached by gipsies who ask for few coins for food, but actually can work a load of money for their tyrannic families or just buy cigarets if the former is not the case.
Of coarse someone have to look into the case - I don't think it is only a family business as it might include violence or drinking habits from the father.
Disillusioned
Is it a crime?
Moderator
Back on topic please.
Gurukun
Basher, I was refering to a personal expierience when I was small, living in Arizona. I was selling lemonade on the sidewalk and behold, cops pulled up and closed my operation down. So, I've seen first hand that there is something done about selling stuff in front of everybody...something WAS done.
ReformedBasher
@Gurukun
What are you on about? The local cops bust a few people every now and then for the newspapers? Kids are back begging the next day. If they don't, they won't eat.
ReformedBasher
Javi Phillips-Bravo
I was thinking the same thing. And we both know even worse things happen to kids...
nath
Samantha for them to be "on the Ball" they first need to be "informed" about potential problems.
Walking around and making forced checks only wastes time and man-power.
Those type of services will always after after stuff happened just like the fire-brigade, police, etc.
Samantha Zoe Aso
I wish the police and the Welfare Dept. would be as 'on the ball' with child abuse cases involving kids being left alone to starve in apartments, kids being beaten by caregivers, neglectful parents, parents leaving young kids unattended in cars, alone at home........
spiddygy
He wasn't stealing, and furthermore the whole story is just made up. Japanese police will make you say you did what they want to hear, whether correct or not.
Gurukun
I beg to differ (no pun intended)
Javi Phillips-Bravo
What a load of stupid comments! At least in Japan they proceed to arrest the man in question. Have any of you ever heard of third world countries? The Americas? Etc, where you see children begging and selling stuff in front of everybody's eyes and nothing is done. EVER!
Chinchan Zu
dont mistake him as one of lady gagas "monster"... this is the real one
trinklets2
Begging money for food? What would you think of a couple of old ladies in their 60's or 70's who often would stand near the ticket vending machines of a major eki here in my place who would approach unsuspecting victims and tell the story of wanting to go to Nagoya but that her money wasn't enough. I can never be sure though if they're real Japanese as some have just the citizenship although by blood they're a bunch of gaijins like us. I'm sorry but my sharing is quite off topic. Although it is about begging for dough.
Notthesame
Forcing someone to beg would at least include a beating I should think. I would say he had his son beg, much like my parents had me splitting firewood at that age, and bringing in firewood in the dead of winter, among other things. I could have chopped my friggen leg off! So no, I don't see the deal with this arrest.
sakurala
Gurukun: at the age of 5 I was caught stealing and I learned to never do it again (unless I knew I wouldn't be caught ) But sadly I can understand this boys situation. I hope it's dealt with in a way that can better him and his family.
Gurukun
I just stole it. LOL!!
But seriously, I too, feel sorry for the kid regardless if he was made to beg or not. That's really not how anybody would want thier kids learn to grow up.
sakurala
I feel bad if the boy was being forced and is now protecting his father so he won't have to face a punishment at home. Seems to be the case since the father tried to run.
However I wonder if the boy did do this on his own accord to prove some point and his family was standing by to witness it. When I was a kid, I begged just so I could go buy an ice cream.
Gurukun
2,000 yen since August? What's wrong with this 'dad?' For that amount, I would have went to a plan B....like getting another job?
Pukey2
What a vile man.
zichi
Of course it does. No crime exists in your Japan.
tmarie
Oh I am sure he'll be let off with no follow up.
Mind you, if other countries had laws about this, you wouldn't see kids selling flowers in Vietnam, disfigured kids in India...
CrazyJoe
A father forces his son to beg, and there was the mother who made her daughter to prostitute. Is there any decency left in this world?
Speed
Yeah, sure dude.