Officers took Tsuchida’s colleagues Eiichiro Genchi, 31, and Takuya Abe, 26, and three other suspects into custody on destruction and abandonment of a corpse charges.
According to police, a search of a sewage tank at the home of Abe’s 59-year-old father revealed a facial bone and tooth filling of Tsuchida.
Tsuchida was last seen at his home on November 25, 2010. He told his wife he was going to work and would return over the weekend. His last correspondence was by phone, in which he said he had a meeting that afternoon.
In July of last year, Genchi and Abe were arrested on destruction of property charges for smashing Tsuchida’s mobile phone.
The following September, Abe was found guilty and received a prison term of three years, which was suspended for 12 months. During the trial, the defendant denied having any knowledge of the whereabouts of his missing co-worker.
Genchi was also found guilty and received a suspended sentence.
According to the Sankei (Oct. 6, 2012), Tsuchida is believed to have encountered financial difficulties.
In May, the family of Tsuchida offered a reward for information on his whereabouts.
