TOKUSHIMA (TR) – Tokushima Prefectural Police on Monday arrested prefectural section chief on suspicion of child prostitution two years ago, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Apr. 13).
Police have accused Hiroki Kogi, a 40-year-old chief of the Health and Welfare Policy Division of Tokushima Prefecture, on suspicion of violating the Child Prostitution and Pornography Prohibition Law.
Kogi is accused of giving cash to a girl under 18 whom he met on a social-networking site and engaging in indecent acts with her in early November 2024
The arrest warrant alleges that the suspect knew the girl was under 18 and gave her 10,000 yen in cash at a hotel in exchange for engaging in indecent acts.
The incident came to light in late December of last year when the girl’s guardian contacted police.
Keisuke Miho, Deputy Director of the Prefectural Health and Welfare Department, commented, “We apologize for the trouble and concern caused to the victim, her family, and the citizens of the prefecture. We will reaffirm our commitment to maintaining discipline and thoroughly enforcing service regulations.”
