CHIBA (TR) – Chiba Prefectural Police have arrested two men, including a company executive, for allegedly torturing an acquaintance by forcing him to drink bleach and burning him with a blowtorch before robbing him, reports Chiba Nippo (Oct. 21).
The suspects are Takuma Nakane, a 28-year-old company executive of no fixed address, and a 38-year-old unemployed Philippine national residing in Tomisato City. Both are accused of robbery resulting in injury, while the 28-year-old faces an additional charge of confinement.
Police have not disclosed whether the suspects admit to the allegations.
According to the Sakura Police Station, the brutal assault took place at a materials storage yard in the Kotake area of Sakura City between 1:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on September 2.
The pair allegedly beat the 22-year-old unemployed victim across his entire body. During the hours-long ordeal, they forced him to drink bleach and gasoline, doused his body in fuel, and used a blowtorch to scorch him. The attackers then robbed the man of 25,000 yen in cash and a smartphone valued at 150,000 yen.
Following the assault, the 28-year-old executive allegedly locked the severely injured victim inside a shipping container at the site, holding him captive from 10:00 p.m. until 10:00 a.m. the following day.
The victim sustained severe trauma, including fractures to his face and right hand, as well as extensive full-body burns. He eventually managed to escape the yard and flee to his home, where his mother immediately dialed police.
Investigators believe the three men were former work associates and are probing the incident as a violent dispute over stolen property.
According to police, the victim stated that right before the beating commenced, the men yelled at him, “How dare you take someone else’s belongings, you bastard.”