Story By: Lee Bullen, Sub Editor: Joseph Golder, Agency: Asia Wire Report

A Japanese cop has been dismissed for using the police database to find a woman’s personal information before going to her house and allegedly sexual assaulting her.

The incident took place on 26th August when police officer Koji Tono, who worked on cases of sexual assault and harassment on the Japanese railway, posed as an estate agent to enter the victim’s property, according to local media.

At the house in the ward of Minami in the city of Saitama located in the central Japanese prefecture of the same name, the officer, who was a member of the railway division, allegedly fondled the woman’s body.

The unnamed victim was described as being in her 20s, according to the police.

Tono was arrested for indecent assault on 10th October although he denied molesting the victim.

He is quoted as saying: “I entered the residence under false pretences, but I did not touch her body.”

Reports said that Tono has since been sacked from his post after being prosecuted for the offence.

He said: “I am really sorry for scaring the victim.”

At the time of the incident, the cop headed a railway division that dealt with cases of sexual harassment, assault and theft on trains and stations.

After accessing the victim’s personal data, along with the details of several other women, he went to the victim’s house while off duty, according to reports.

A Saitama police spokesperson said: “It was an act that betrays the expectations of the citizens of the prefecture, and we apologise deeply to those who have been victimised and to the citizens of the prefecture.”

It is unclear whether Tono will face further punishment.

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