TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested four family members for allegedly confining a teenage girl with intellectual disabilities in a locked closet for several days, leaving her malnourished, battered and suffering from hypothermia, reports NHK (May 13).
The suspects include the girl’s parents, both in their 40s, and two older siblings in their 20s.
According to investigative sources, the horrific abuse took place in January at the family’s Tokyo residence. The victim, who was a junior high school student at the time, was locked inside the lower section of a “dungeon” (zashikiro).
Police revealed that the family had modified the space — measuring just 82 centimeters high, 1.72 meters wide, and 80 centimeters deep — by boarding it up and installing a locking door. During her confinement, the girl was repeatedly shackled by her hands and feet with a device, resulting in bedsores on her back.
The crime was uncovered in late January when the mother called emergency services, telling dispatchers, “My daughter’s body is cold.”
The teen was rushed to a hospital in a semi-conscious state. Recognizing clear signs of foul play, the Tokyo Fire Department immediately alerted police to suspected severe abuse.
Upon her admission to the hospital, the emaciated girl weighed only in the 30-kilogram range and was suffering from severe malnutrition and hypothermia. Medical staff also discovered multiple bruises and scars from previous bone fractures, primarily on her upper body, leading police to believe she was the victim of routine, daily violence. She is currently recovering from her injuries.
During voluntary questioning prior to her arrest, the mother told investigators she created the makeshift cell around September of last year for “discipline.” However, following their arrests, both parents have partially denied the allegations.
Of the two siblings, one has admitted to the charges, while the other is refusing to cooperate, telling police, “I don’t want to say anything.”
“All necessary measures”
The case has also cast a harsh spotlight on local child welfare authorities. The regional Child Consultation Center revealed they received a tip regarding suspected physical abuse on January 26 — two days before the mother’s emergency call.
Despite a national guideline requiring child welfare officers to confirm a child’s safety within 48 hours of a report, the center delayed their visit until January 29 to coordinate a joint visit with another local agency. By the time they acted, the girl was already fighting for her life in the hospital.
“We take the occurrence of this incident very seriously,” the center’s director said in a statement. “Moving forward, we will cooperate fully with the police and take all necessary measures.”
