Two arrested for forcing woman into prostitution to pay back debts

Thursday 18th September, 10:28 AM JST

YOKOHAMA —

A man and a woman were arrested on Wednesday for forcing a 25-year-old woman into prostitution to pay back debts in Yokohama. Shinobu Ishii, 35, and Hiruzumi Ikegami, 42, were arrested for allegedly forcing the woman, who is Ishii’s relative, to have sex with men, which they arranged through an online dating service, at hotels in Yokohama between April 27 and June 19.

According to police investigations, the victim was in debt to Ishii and was forced to live together with her at a weekly apartment. The victim was forced have sex with several men almost everyday since February, police said. Ishii transferred the money to her boyfriend Ikegami who lives in Okayama Prefecture.

Police said Ishii beat the victim on a daily basis so she would not escape.

› Login to comment

Latest 15 of 23 Total Comments Show All

Alphaape at 01:00 PM JST - 18th September

So sad. I wonder did her relative set her up with borrowing money that she knew she could not pay back. With relatives like her, I would rather be an orphan.
chibaman at 01:42 PM JST - 18th September

So which is it? since febuary or April?

The prostitution arranged through the online dating service was between April 27 and June 19, and Shinobu and Hiruzumi here will get nabbed for that. The police have been told it had been going on since Feb, but will have a harder time of proving that one. No need to thank me for the clarification.
CavemanLawyer at 02:02 PM JST - 18th September

I hope they get the "customers" too. Do they need to be hit over the head with a brick to realize the woman is less than willing and has been beaten??

There should be a code of honor where men check a prostitute's situation before partaking. Any guy that goes for failing to do so will only get a wink from me.

--Cirroc
CavemanLawyer at 02:04 PM JST - 18th September

This is how prostitution works. Women don't normally do it out of choice.

How many of us do any job out of choice? Most prostitution is far from this I think, especially where it is legal and regulated. But if you have some statistics to back up your claim, let us hear it.

--Cirroc
JeffLee at 03:13 PM JST - 18th September

Chibaman,

So from Feb. to April, the sex was arranged through means other than online dating? If so, what was it and why doesn't the story specify it?

Sorry, that's anything but a "clarification."
DBC at 03:37 PM JST - 18th September

So that means she had sex with 54 guys or if twice a day 108 guys. Man! Who ever did this to her needs a beat down.
WilliB at 04:30 PM JST - 18th September

Caveman lawyer:

" I hope they get the "customers" too. Do they need to be hit over the head with a brick to realize the woman is less than willing and has been beaten?? "

The article says nothing about anybody being beaten. If you know more about this case then we do, tell us.
borscht at 04:53 PM JST - 18th September

WilliB,

Police said Ishii beat the victim on a daily basis so she would not escape.

Maybe the editors added this since your post (but I think I read it before.) In any case, someone needs to be beaten.
BBLeo at 07:23 PM JST - 18th September

Driven with greed for money.[Police said Ishii beat the victim on a daily basis so she would not escape] Are ou trying to tell us that she couldn'try to escape these 'MONSTERS?' Even if she was in debt, this is 'HUMAN SLAVERY.'
Molenir at 04:33 AM JST - 19th September

How many of us do any job out of choice? Most prostitution is far from this I think, especially where it is legal and regulated. But if you have some statistics to back up your claim, let us hear it.

You have statistics showing its not?
KitsuneYoukai at 05:11 AM JST - 19th September

There is difference between voluntarily prostituting yourself to being forced to. This story clearly says the girl was beaten and forced.
CavemanLawyer at 02:02 PM JST - 19th September

WilliB: The article says nothing about anybody being beaten. If you know more about this case then we do, tell us.

Last sentence of article:

Police said Ishii beat the victim on a daily basis so she would not escape.

--Cirroc
CavemanLawyer at 02:06 PM JST - 19th September

You have statistics showing its not?

No, but the burden of proof is not on me. I am not the one who made the unfounded claim. I stated what I think, and stated that clearly. Notginger is trying to tell us something is a fact. The onus is on Notginger.

And if that does not make sense to you, Notginger started it.

--Cirroc
Molenir at 05:48 PM JST - 19th September

He made an unfounded claim, you challenged it based on nothing, demanding statistics from him. If you have something concrete, then challenge him on that. Otherwise... Just state your opinion about this horrible crime, and move on. Right?

All I can say about it myself, is I'm glad these guys were arrested. I'm only sad that they won't be punished. They deserve 10 years in jail, they'll be lucky to get more then 30.
jonobugs at 11:42 PM JST - 19th September

Molenir, I have to side with Caveman on this. Using your logic I can simply state that most women in Japan resort to prostitution so they can buy gucci bags. It would then be up to you to prove me wrong. Sounds silly doesn't it?