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Details emerge about Grand Hyatt Tokyo manager accused of sexual assault

Shukan Jitsuwa Oct. 16
Shukan Jitsuwa Oct. 16
On September 1, Tokyo Metropolitan Police issued an arrest warrant for Antonio Alvarez, a former general manager of the Grand Hyatt Tokyo who is accused of sexually assaulting a woman on the hotel’s property earlier this year.

After the issuance of the warrant, media outlets provided few details about what transpired. However, a follow-up report appearing in Shukan Jitsuwa (Oct. 16) reveals the behavior of Alvarez to have been only slightly more bizarre than that of the hotel.

Police sources tell the magazine that on May 30 at around 11:50 a.m., the woman, who was visiting Tokyo from Kyoto, entered the upscale hotel, located in Tokyo’s Roppongi entertainment area, and approached Alvarez in the lobby.

Slightly early for an appointment with a friend of her father, she asked the suspect, a tall, 45-year-old Spainard, for the location of the bathroom.

Unable to speak Japanese, Alvarez communicated with the woman (said to be in her 20s) in English, and, in offering assistance, the former manager said he would serve as her guide. But he took her upstairs to a restaurant.

“When she asked for the location of the bathroom, she used the word ‘restroom,’ which he likely intentionally misunderstood to be ‘restaurant’ as he seemed to think she was inviting him to dine with her,” an investigator tells the magazine.

The woman told Alvarez that she already had an appointment. He then offered to escort her back down to the first floor. During this time, he asked where she lived, where she was going and whether this was her first time in Tokyo. After indicating that he was the hotel’s general manager, he presented his business card.

When the pair arrived back downstairs, Alvarez opened the door to a multi-purpose restroom, invited her to enter and followed her inside.

The woman became surprised by the presence of Alvarez and tried to leave, but the suspect pushed her up against a wall.

“You know, I really like you,” he reportedly told her. “Why don’t you give me your phone number?”

He then told her his age is 40, and indicated he is single.

“I can’t give you my phone number,” the woman said, “and I’ve got to leave for an appointment.”

Alvarez then said that the bathroom they were occupying is hardly used. “Even loud voices are a waste in here,” he said.

The suspect then began to remove her stockings just before he dropped his pants, whereby he exposed himself.

He then asked for a hand-job, but she refused to comply.

“Please let me out,” she said in tears, “I want to get out. In exchange, I’ll give you my phone number.”

Alvarez then whipped out his smartphone and she typed in her contact information. He also asked for his card back.

Antonio Alvarez
Antonio Alvarez
After the incident, the male friend of the woman contacted police.

“Alvarez was cooperative but denied any criminal activity,” says the aforementioned investigator. “However, footprints and fingerprints matching that of Alvarez were found inside the bathroom. As well, a DNA analysis of substances found on the woman’s clothing, including her underwear, matched that of the suspect.”

The hotel issued a formal apology. However, the friend of the victim sought an explanation from the general manager himself. However, the hotel was not exactly cooperative.

“Employees at the front desk repeatedly told him that the general manager was in a ‘business meeting’ and was unavailable,” says a local news reporter. “So, the friend of the victim decided to post an entry about the incident on Facebook.”

A lawyer and a representative of the hotel then visited the man in person.

“They told him to stop with his postings,” the aforementioned reporter says. “They also said that they are a big-name sponsor in the media and that they have ways of controlling what gets out.”

In making their request, the representatives of the hotel reportedly used the term jishuku, meaning self-restraint, but in this case the implication was closer to self-censorship.

The suspect, who became general manager last December, left the country on August 7 after quitting his position at the hotel. Tokyo police said they will take Alvarez into custody if he returns to Japan.

When reached for comment, the public relations department told of the Grand Hyatt Tokyo told the magazine that they are cooperating with the investigation and had nothing further to add.

Rather than a five-star establishment, the Grand Hyatt Tokyo should be given a “black star” designation, suggests Shukan Jitsuwa.

Source: “Dokusen nyushu! Cho ichiryu hoteru mae soshihainin kyosei waisetsu jiken,” Shukan Jitsuwa (Oct. 16, pages 200-202)