Press "Enter" to skip to content

Hiroshima cops arrest Mazda employee in murder of colleague

Suguru Kamikawa
Suguru Kamikawa

HIROSHIMA (TR) – Hiroshima Prefectural Police have arrested a 20-year-old male employee of Mazda Motor Co. in the killing of his colleague in Hiroshima City earlier this month, reports NHK (Sept. 24).

At around 3:30 p.m. on September 14, Suguru Kamikawa is alleged to have killed Kyohei Sugano, 19, by hitting him over the head with a fire extinguisher inside an emergency stairwell of a company dormitory where both persons lived. He is also alleged to have stolen money and a smartphone from the victim.

Kamikawa, who has been charged with murder and robbery, admits to the allegations, telling police that he became “angry” during a conversation, according to TBS News (Sept. 24). Police have revealed that the pair had a dispute over money.

Sugano’s body was found lying face-up with wounds to his head and face inside the stairwell at around 4:15 p.m. that same day by another resident. He was later confirmed dead at a nearby hospital due to loss of blood.

During the course of the investigation, police determined that the victim, who lived on the seventh floor of the building along with the suspect, had withdrawn 1.2 million from his bank account a couple of hours before the alleged crime took place. Surveillance camera footage showed Sugano in the presence of Kawakawa near an ATM machine used to withdraw the cash.

Sugano, who joined the company in April of last year, worked at a metal die casting department at a factory of the company. He had been scheduled to begin a shift at 8:15 p.m. on the night his body was found.