TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have revealed that a former taxi driver suspected of drugging and raping dozens of female passengers was in possession of around 3,000 illicit images, reports TBS News (May 22).
According to police, the smartphone and other devices belonging to Satoshi Tanaka, 54, show him carrying out obscene acts inside his cab and other other locations with persons believed to be female passengers.
Police believe the number of victims in the cause could be around 50.
Police this week announced the arrest of Tanaka for allegedly giving sleeping pills to a female passenger in her twenties who was riding in his taxi in July last year. He then took her to her home and sexually assaulted her.
Regarding allegations of non-consensual sexual intercourse and violations of the Act on the Punishment of Filming Sexual Acts, Tanaka denied the charges, saying he “doesn’t remember” the matter.
Two other cases
In October last year, police first arrested Tanaka for giving another female passenger, aged in her teens, a sleeping pill two months before and stealing her cash and other items. However, he was released pending further action.
The victim in the case announced this week was identified when a video of the attack was found on a smartphone belonging to Tanaka that was seized by police. An examination of the woman’s hair gave a positive result for sleeping pill ingredients, police said.
Police believe the woman was already drunk when she boarded Tanaka’s cab. He then used an unspecified means to slip her the sleeping pills. She was identified based on belongings in her home that were visible in the footage.
Tanaka was also arrested and indicted in December last year for committing lewd acts with a third woman.
