IBARAKI (TR) – Ibaraki Prefectural Police have arrested a man and his sister, both of whom are farmers, for leaving their elderly mother unattended after she collapsed at their home in the town of Ibaraki. The mother later died, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Dec. 16).
Between 8:00 p.m. on December 12 and 5:00 p.m. on December 14, Makoto Okutani, 49, and his sister Tomoko, 47, are suspected of leaving their 73-year-old mother unattended after she collapsed in the garden while knowing that she would not get up.
Their mother was pronounced dead at the scene on December 14. An examination of her body revealed scratches and other injuries, police said.
Police have not revealed whether the suspects admit to allegations of abandonment by a caregiver.
The incident came to light at around 3:00 p.m. on December 14, when an acquaintance contacted police after Tomoko complained that her mother had collapsed in the garden and would not move.
Police believe there may have been some kind of problem between the suspects and their mother that led to her being left unattended.
Police are now investigating the circumstances that led to the incident.
