OITA (TR) – Police here have released a new wanted poster featuring previously unseen photographs of a fugitive accused of intentionally running down two university students in Beppu City, killing one, reports NHK (June 15).
On June 29, 2022, Yoichi Hatta allegedly rammed his vehicle into two university students at an intersection in Beppu before fleeing the scene. One student died in the attack.
Investigators have classified Hatta as a “crucial wanted suspect,” pursuing him on suspicion of murder rather than a standard traffic violation, as they believe he drove into the victims with murderous intent.
Approaching the anniversary of the deadly incident, police unveiled the updated wanted poster on Monday. For the first time, the poster features a full-body photograph of Hatta taken in 2018, alongside a 2019 image showing the suspect wearing sunglasses.
“We created this poster with the hope that many people will be able to see his full-body proportions and what he looks like with his face partially hidden,” Hiroki Fukuoka, head of the Criminal Investigation Division of the Oita Prefectural Police, said during a press conference.
In an expanded effort to track down the fugitive, police plan to display the new posters nationwide. Authorities will also distribute flyers across 10 prefectures, including the Tokyo metropolitan area, urging the public to come forward with any information regarding Hatta’s whereabouts.
