TOKYO (TR) – The National Police Agency has decided to extend the reward application period for the provision of information that leads to the apprehension of 28-year-old hit-and-run suspect Yoichi Hatta.
In June 2022, Hatta allegedly drove a vehicle that hit and killed a boy, then a 19-year-old university student, in Beppu City, Oita Prefecture. He then fled the scene.
Hatta remains at large. In conjunction with the reward offer, he was designed as “highly wanted” by the National Police Agency one year ago. On September 6, that designation was renewed, with police citing the need to continue the investigation, reports NHK (Sep. 13).
Maximum of 8 million yen
Such a reward is a paid to the provider of information that leads to the resolution of a case that has a large social impact, with a maximum amount of 3 million yen.
In addition, if private rewards from bereaved families and others are added, a maximum of 8 million yen can be paid.
According to Oita Prefectural Police, 6,937 reports of the suspect had been received as of last month. Of that total, 6,485 were eyewitness reports of people who “saw someone who looked like the suspect.”
Of the sightings, 461 were within Oita Prefecture, 5,404 were outside the prefecture, and 620 were via the internet. Of these, 2,489 were from the Kanto region, 812 from the Kinki region, and 870 from Kyushu.
In June 2024, two years after the incident, the Oita Prefectural Police released a sketch speculating on Hatta’s current appearance, and in August they began releasing new videos on YouTube, calling for information.
“I waited every day”
Based on the investigation to date, Hatta was seen stopping a university student near the scene of the crime a few minutes before the incident. After making a false accusation, he is suspected of hitting two students with his car without braking at a speed of nearly 100 kilometers per hour. The aforementioned 19-year-old boy later died.
In an interview with NHK, the mother the 19-year-old boy said, “It has been a year since Hatta Yoichi was designated a wanted person by the National Police Agency. When a person is designated a wanted person, posters are put up at police stations and train stations across the country, and he should be caught quickly. With that hope, I waited every day for news of Hatta’s arrest.”
However, that hasn’t happened.
“I am very sad that another milestone has been reached,” she continued. “Many hit-and-run cases catch my eye even though I don’t want to see them. As I watch the news of the outrageous crimes and accidents that result in suffering to victims, I imagine what will happen after Hatta is arrested.”
She is at an impasse.
“Even if I want to move forward, I cannot,” she went on. “Even if I do move forward, it will be a thorny road. But if I don’t move forward, it will be a long and difficult road that will never end. Police officers, please make an arrest as soon as possible. And everyone, please do not think, ‘I’m sorry if I’m wrong,’ and please provide any information, even if it’s small.”
