Singapore diplomat questioned by police in Japan after reportedly filming male student at public bath: Reports
The Tokyo police are reportedly investigating potential violations of child pornography laws.
The Singapore embassy in Tokyo. (Image: Facebook/SingaporeEmbassyTokyo)
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SINGAPORE: A diplomat working at the Singapore embassy in Tokyo was questioned by police in Japan after being suspected of filming a male teenager at a public bath, according to Japanese media reports on Thursday (May 2).
The diplomat in question is a 55-year-old, who is a "former" counsellor at the embassy, according to NHK. A counsellor is a diplomatic rank for officers serving overseas, such as in an embassy.
Yomiuri Shimbun reported that on Feb 27, the man used his smartphone to secretly film a 13-year-old first-year middle school student in the changing room of a public bath. The boy was naked.
Staff members at the public bath in Tokyo's Minato Ward reportedly called the police who, upon arriving, searched the diplomat's phone and found "multiple naked photos of male customers", according to Asahi Shimbun.Â
It added that the diplomat refused to go to the police station but told officers he had taken such photos in other public baths.Â
When asked to delete the photos from his phone, the diplomat "deleted them on the spot", reported the Japanese news outlet. He allegedly deleted 700 photos from his phone, which he told police he had taken in the six months leading up to the incident.
The Tokyo police are investigating potential violations of child pornography laws and are planning to ask Singapore's Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) to have the man turn himself in, said Asahi Shimbun. Formal charges are also being considered.
In response to CNA's queries, MFA said that it was made aware of the allegations when it was contacted by Japanese media on Wednesday.
The officer had completed his tour of duty in Tokyo as scheduled and returned to Singapore in mid-April.
MFA said in an updated statement that the officer did not inform the ministry until he was asked on Wednesday about the incident.
"From the time of the alleged offence on Feb 27 to today, we have not received information from the authorities in Tokyo," added MFA.
"The ministry has reached out to the relevant authorities for information and will be thoroughly investigating the incident."
The officer has been suspended from his duties to assist in investigations. The ministry said it would cooperate with Japanese authorities and take the necessary actions.
"We would also be prepared to waive diplomatic immunity to facilitate investigations if the alleged facts bear out," it added.
The ministry said it expects all staff to uphold the highest standards of conduct and to abide by the laws of their host countries.
