Urgent report - Missing fiancé

2. Biased response / where is his will?

Miss Eriko urged him to act immediately because the case of Mr. N had much similarity to other kidnapping and confinement cases of Unification Church members. The sergeant just answered her, “Nothing to be worried about.”

A week later the sergeant gave her a call and told her that they had communicated with his parents and found-out where he was. The parents had told the sergeant that Mr. N was in a place that he could go out freely. He couldn’t talk to Mr. N directly, but the parents said it was a time needed for parent/child communication. So there was no criminal concern. That was the sergeant’s response.

Miss Eriko said, “If he is free to go out, I want to see him. Please take me there.” But he responded to her obstinately that she had to trust him and his parents. Also, he added, that the police had confirmed his face.

Miss Eriko felt she could do nothing more over the phone, so she visited Suginami police department together with a lawyer. Sergeant Ikka reiterated the same response, “The parents and this child are having a very important conversation now.” Miss Eriko asked if he confirmed Mr. N’s will. The sergeant admitted flatly that he didn’t confirm it.

Miss Eriko replied to him, “You promised last time that you would confirm his will. Please go and ask him.” He simply denied its necessity and said, “If you are here for complaint, please leave.” The sergeant’s attitude had changed completely.

The lawyer intervened and said, “We just want to be sure about his will, that is all.” But the sergeant dismissed the conversation by saying, “If you are that sure (that Mr. N is held against his will), you’d better go and look for him on your own.”

Miss Eriko contacted the Suginami Police Department several times more, but their response didn’t change.

A reporter communicated with the Vice Chief of the Suginami Police department, Yasuhiro Okouchi on July 29. The conversation was as follows:

I: It has been 45 days since Mr. N has disappeared. And his fiancé is worried.

P: It is not a criminal case. So there is no need for investigation.

I: So the police confirmed his whereabouts or already took him into custody?

P: No, we don’t know where he is, exactly.

I: It has already been 45 days, and nobody knows where he is. You said it is not a criminal case. Isn’t your statement contradictory?

P: I cannot comment on that. If you want an interview, you have to go through our public relations department.

Sergeant Ikka told Miss Eriko that he found where he was but he didn’t find any criminal concerns. Vice chief Okouchi said they didn’t know where he was. Their response differed. Both said there were no criminal concerns.

We communicated with the Department of Public Information of the Metropolitan Police Department. They replied that they could not answer immediately if they would accept an interview request or not. They said they would give us an answer later. Three days have passed, yet we have received no response.

Vice chief Okouchi said, “We don’t know Mr. N’s will but we didn’t confirm any criminality.” This is irrational.

If they admitted that they knew his whereabouts, they can’t ignore Miss Eriko’s request to see him. That's what they are trying to avoid. Police don’t want Miss Eriko to see Mr. N.

Her fiancé is missing. Nobody knows if it is out of his own will or not. Circumstantial evidence tells us it is not out of his own will. This is obviously a criminal concern. Yet the police seem to see this case with bias. I have to say that they failed to fulfill their fundamental duty to protect civilians keeping a neutral position and fair judgment.