OSAKA (TR) – Osaka Prefectural Police have arrested a 34-year-old man over the alleged attempted sexual assault of a woman earlier this year. He has also been accused in a second case involving another woman, according to Mainichi Broadcasting System (Oct. 23).
On a night in late May, Masaru Iinuma, an office worker, is suspected of grabbing a woman, aged in her 20s, from behind as she was walking home on a street in Osaka Prefecture. “I’ll kill you.” he reportedly whispered to her while attempting to commit indecent acts.
Upon his arrest on suspicion of attempted indecent assault without consent, Iinuma denied the charges. “I didn’t do it and I don’t know anything about it,” the suspect was quoted,
As the incident unfolded, the woman pushed Iinuma in the chest and fled the scene. The woman’s mother later called the police.
Iinuma, who lives in Yawata City, emerged as a person of interest in the case after an examination of security camera footage and other sources.
The arrest is his second. On a night in August, Iinuma allegedly hugged a woman, aged in her 30s, on a street in Osaka Prefecture, causing her to fall and injure herself. “If you scream, I’ll kill you,” he reportedly said.
However, the woman did scream, upon which time Iinuma fled the scene. The victim suffered injuries to both elbows and other parts of the body that required approximately two weeks to heal, according to the Sankei Shimbun (Oct. 23).
Iinuma also denied involvement in this case, police said. The suspect was later released pending further action.
