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Drunk Tokyo cop arrested over alleged dodging of taxi fare, assault of driver

TOKYO (TR) – An intoxicated police inspector from Nakano Police Station has been arrested for allegedly robbing and assaulting a taxi driver in Itabashi Ward, police have revealed.

At around 3:00 a.m. on Sunday, Ichiro Kinda, an inspector with the Organized Crime Control Division, is alleged to have refused to pay the fare of 4,300 yen and choking the driver. He is also alleged to have punched him in the face.

The driver suffered injuries, including a bruised neck, that will take about two weeks to heal, police said, according to NHK (Oct. 6).

Upon his arrest on suspicion of robbery and assault, Kaneda, who had been drinking beforehand, said, “I didn’t intend to commit a robbery, but there’s no doubt that I did it.”

According to police, Kaneda got out of the taxi without paying the fare, and when the driver asked for payment, he assaulted him.

Kaneda then left the scene, but police officers who responded to an emergency call found him nearby and made the arrest.

In commenting on the incident, a representative of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police said, “This is unacceptable behavior for a police officer, and we offer our sincere apologies to the victim. We will conduct a thorough investigation and take strict action in accordance with the facts that have been revealed.”