2nd suspect in murder of couple arrested after trying to commit suicide
TOKYO —
Police in Miyakojima, Okinawa Prefecture, on Wednesday arrested a man in connection with the murder of a wealthy Swiss-based Japanese asset manager and his wife whose bodies were found buried in a vacant lot on Kuki, Saitama Prefecture, on Monday.
According to police, the suspect, identified as Tsuyoshi Watanabe, 43, tried to commit suicide on Tuesday afternoon by swallowing a toilet cleaning liquid. TBS reported that he was found lying beside his car on a road in the middle of a field in Miyakojima. Watanabe spent Tuesday night in hospital but was released into police custody and flown to Tokyo on Wednesday night.
Another suspect, Takaaki Kuwahara, 41, was arrested Tuesday, also in Miyakojima, and brought to Tokyo. Both men have been charged with abandoning bodies. Police said arrest warrants have been issued for a number of other men, but gave no other details.
The bizarre case has received a lot of media coverage this week.
The victims—financier Makoto Shimomi, 51, and his 48-year-old wife Mie, had been living in Switzerland for the past four year. They were said to live a high-flying lifestyle in Europe and owned apartments in Tokyo and Chiba, as well as several luxury cars.
The couple came back to Japan for a visit in November and were scheduled to return to Switzerland on Dec 14. However, they disappeared after leaving their Ginza apartment on Dec 7. They were seen getting into a car and were never heard from again.
TBS reported that the couple told friends that they had been invited by “an acquaintance” to a party in Nikko, Tochigi Prefecture, on Dec 7, but police have found no evidence of any scheduled party.
The two bodies were found buried in a shallow grave in a vacant lot in Kuki. Police said both victims appeared to have been strangled to death and there were no personal belongings on them.
Investigators also revealed that after the Shimomis went missing, Makoto’s credit card was used unsuccessfully at Tokyo Station by a man in a white face mask attempting to purchase 3 million yen worth of shinkansen ticket coupons. Some of their personal belongings were sold at pawnshops in Tokyo, police said.
On Wednesday, police said that Watanabe had been communicating by phone and email with Shimomi for about a year about investment deals, TBS reported.
Watanabe owned the plot of land where the bodies were found, police said.
Japan Today
Order by Time Order by Popularity
21 Comments
Login to comment
2
Penfold
sounds like he wasn't that determined to top himself if he could only pluck up the courage to swig on some magic cleaner.
0
Ewan Huzarmy
Both men have been charged with abandoning bodies
As opposed to being charged with murder ?
0
papigiulio
Wow more than 2 even. This whole case is weird. They actually found 1 of the guys while he was burrying bodies in the middle of the day, like he wanted to get caught. Either way good that they caught at least 2, went faster than I expected.
4
Yubaru
Give it time, the police have charged them with this to keep them in custody. Now they will investigate the murder and you can bet they'll get charged with that as well.
-3
tmarie
Still confused - are they Japanese or Swiss? Which passport do they carry?
This guy was obviously caught up in some shady business.
3
Seirei Tobimatsu
There are masterminds behind these disposable henchmen.
4
JA_Cruise
@tmarie The victims are both Japanese who work for a Swiss Asset mgmt firm. I think these guys thought there was a big payoff by killing them and didn't go as planned.
4
blendover
I see no evidence of a mastermind in this affair. It looks decidedly amateur.
2
TheDevilsAssistant
Um...no...That's not how self-cleansing works. Why do these murders keep running to Okinawa somewhere to hide or commit suicide.
-2
JeffLee
My guess is that the husband was running a Ponzi scheme or had lost lots of the guys' money, and the guys were victims who were out to get revenge and recoup their losses.
2
bigg poppa
Wow, something bad from Okinawa not involving U.S. service members!
1
Mirai Hayashi
cowards
-1
Knox Harrington
So suspect Watanabe buried the bodies on his own plot of land??!! That doesn't seem all that clever. And he tried to kill himself by swallowing toilet cleaner? Jeez, what a joker...
JA_Cruise,
In previous articles, it has been said that they were Swiss, ie had Swiss passports. If they were Swiss citizens, you'd think that Switzerland might want to get involved.
-3
tmarie
@tmarie The victims are both Japanese who work for a Swiss Asset mgmt firm. I think these guys thought there was a big payoff by killing them and didn't go as planned.
The article that JT posted earlier this week said they were Swiss nationals yet called them Japanese. My posts were removed when I asked why they were referred to as Japanese when clearly, they are Swiss now, hence my confusion over the matter.
2
Nessie
An interesting tidbit from the Yomiuri:
"Residents near the site where the bodies were found saw several men digging a large hole in late November, leading police to believe the case was a premeditated crime."
http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/T130130004513.htm
1
taj
@tmarie: "referred to as Japanese when clearly, they are Swiss now"
It is my understanding that you don't get to "become Swiss". Nor can you quit being Swiss. So if JT simplieds they were naturalized Swiss, I'm also confused. (wouldn't be the first time... ;-)
Perhaps the earlier post was mistaken in calling them Swiss nationals?
Just in case, I'm off to google.
Moderator
They were Japanese citizens but residents of Switzerland for the past four years.
3
taj
I see that I was wrong: it is possible to naturalize, it's just that " access to Swiss citizenship is relatively narrow and restricted."
Thanks for the link, Nessie!
1
Nessie
Sure thing, Taj.
0
Mocheake
Pretty heinous crime. I hope all the criminals get what they deserve.
0
Albert Johnson
Ahh classic JT, raising more questions then answers lol
Back to top