The Yomiuri Shimbun
Two men have been arrested on suspicion of abandoning the body of a
23-year-old man in a water tank in a mountainous area in Takatsuki,
Osaka Prefecture, police said.
According to police, in the early morning of Sept. 1, Masahiro
Sugimoto and Mitsuhide Hamanaka dumped the body of Yushi Sasaki,
who went missing on Aug. 31. The police discovered the body
Saturday after taking a statement from Sugimoto.
Hamanaka, 22, and Sasaki became acquainted while they were housed
at a facility for disadvantaged children. Hamanaka and Sugimoto,
21, were members of the same religious group.
The police suspect Hamanaka killed Sasaki and asked Sugimoto to
help him abandon Sasaki's body.
According to the police, before going to meet Hamanaka, Sasaki told
his family he feared he might be killed by Hamanaka and asked them
to contact the police if he did not return within three days.
(Jan. 17, 2007)