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Tokyo cops: Man posed as talent scout in luring rape victim

Hideo Kawashima
Hideo Kawashima

TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 61-year-old man who allegedly sexually assaulted a woman after luring her to a hotel by pretending to be a scout for models, reports TV Asahi (Oct. 15).

September 4, Hideo Kawashima called out the woman, aged in her 20s, on a platform at JR Otsuka Station in Toshima Ward. “I am with a talent agency,” he reportedly told her. “Don’t you want to become a model?”

After receiving woman’s phone number, the suspect invited her to a hotel where she was allegedly raped.

Kawashima denies the allegations. “I did not rape her,” the suspect is quoted by the Sugamo Police Station, according to the Sankei Shimbun (Oct. 15).

Prior to the incident at the hotel, the suspect allegedly threatened the woman. “I am yakuza,” he reportedly said. “If you don’t listen to what I say, I’ll beat you up.”

According to Fuji News Network (OCt. 15), police seized application forms for modeling auditions from the residence of the suspect.

Police, who apprehended Kawashima via the phone number he provided to the victim, are investigating whether the suspect had pulled the same ruse on previous occasions.