TOKYO (TR) – Following the discovery of a man’s body in the bathroom of an apartment in Shinjuku Ward earlier this month, an interview with investigators has revealed that the suspects arrested in the case were likely planning to move the corpse, reports Jiji Press (July 11).
At around 2:30 p.m. on July 1, a representative from the management company of the apartment in Shinjuku Ward called police to report a “strange odor” coming from a unit the fourth floor.
When police officers arrived, they found Soichiro Naruse, 35, of unknown occupation, dead in the bathroom.
The body of Naruse, clothed in underwear, was leaning against the bathtub and covered by a blue tarp. The state of decomposition of the body suggested that it had been about a week since the death. As well, there were multiple wounds to the head, police said previously.
The following day, police arrested Seiichi Kita, 30, on suspicion of abandoning a corpse. On July 10, police arrested a second suspect, Toshihiro Nashimoto, 31, on the same charge.
Nashimoto is suspected of covering Naruse’s body with the blue tarp and abandoning it in the bathroom around June 27.
Nashimoto said, “Kita asked me to help him, and I couldn’t refuse.” It is believed he had never met Naruse.
Kita denies the charges. He said, “The apartment where the incident occurred was used for filming and editing adult videos.” It is believed he and Naruse were running a business together.
Sealed from the outside
Based on the latest information from investigative sources, the head of Naruse was covered with a plastic bag. As well, the door to the bathroom was sealed from the outside.
Sources also revealed that there were no signs that the body had been brought in from outside.
Police believe that the suspects were preparing to move the body and delay the discovery of the incident.
Naruse was believed to have been hit on the head multiple times with a blunt object. The results of an autopsy determined that the cause of death was head trauma.
Police also learned that the two suspects purchased tarps and other items at a mass retailer in Saitama City, Saitama Prefecture on June 24. Around that time, they were regularly in and out of the apartment.
Police are now investigating whether Kita and Nashimoto know the circumstances that led to the death of Naruse.
