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Toyama police: Man, mother likely abducted girl to sexually abuse her

Ryo Watanabe (L) and his mother, Yoshie
Ryo Watanabe (L) and his mother, Yoshie

TOYAMA (TR) – Investigative sources with the Toyama Prefectural Police revealed on Sunday that a man and his mother, both of whom have been arrested in the abduction of a 13-year-old girl, likely committed the crime to molest the victim, reports Nippon News Network (April 10).

On Friday, police arrested Ryo Watanabe, a 25-year-old part-time worker, and his mother, 48-year-old Yoshie, for allegedly kidnapping the girl, 13,  a resident of Takaoka City, Toyama Prefecture.

At around noon the day before, police found her at the home that both suspects share in Shinjo City, Yamagata Prefecture. Police subsequently took the girl, who was unharmed in the incident, into protective custody.

Police believe that Watanabe had intended to sexually abuse the girl.

The family of the girl filed a missing persons report with police on Monday. She had been abducted by the suspects earlier this month.

Watanabe met the girl through the smartphone application Line.