SAITAMA (TR) – Saitama Prefectural Police have arrested a male scaffolder from Chiba Prefecture over the alleged rape of a woman on a street in Iwatsuki Ward, Saitama City, reports TBS News (Nov. 7).
At around 12:10 a.m. on October 28, Yoshito Kobayashi, 30, from Noda City, Chiba, is alleged to have sexually assaulted the woman, aged in her 20s, on the street and stealing her smartphone.
Upon his arrest on suspicion of robbery and non-consensual sexual intercourse, Kobayashi denied the allegations. “I don’t really know. I don’t remember doing this,” he said.
According to police, Kobayashi approached the woman from behind as she was walking and listening to music with earphones. After pulling her to the ground, he threatened her. “Be quiet. I’ll kill you if you make noise,” he said before committing the alleged crime.
The woman found an opportunity to flee the scene, but was punched multiple times in the face, suffering a broken nose, police said.
Afterward, Kobayashi fled the scene and the woman called police. Saitama police tracked the suspect using security camera footage and other sources.
Three days later, police placed him on a wanted list. He was later apprehended near his home.
