CHIBA (TR) – Chiba Prefectural Police have arrested a woman and her husband over the alleged confinement and abuse of her older sister in their home in Matsudo City.
According to TBS News (Jan. 22), Nami Ichikawa, 45, and her husband, 38-year-old Harutaka, also received tens of millions of yen in cash from the victim.
Over a two-day period in March 2023, Ichikawa and her husband are suspected of confining the 51-year-old woman in their home, demanding 800,000 yen in cash and assaulting her, including striking her with the butt end of a knife, and kicking her in the stomach.
The victim suffered serious injuries, including broken ribs, which required a month-long treatment.
During questioning, Nami denied the charges. She said, “That’s not true.” Harutaka also denied the charges. “I did not hit, kick or imprison her,” he said.
The victim is Nami’s older sister, who officially lives in Saitama Prefecture. They began living together around November 2022. Police believe she subjected to daily abuse.
At one point, the sister found an opportunity to contact outside parties and escape. The incident emerged after they contacted the Tokyo Metropolitan Police.
All told, the sister is believed to have given the couple tens of millions of yen during the ordeal.
The victim reportedly said she was only given one bowl of rice a day and “was brainwashed and unable to escape.”
Police are investigating the circumstances that led to the incident.
