TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 27-year-old man claiming to be a photographer over the alleged sexual assault of a girl he lured to his residence underneath the guise of a photograph session, stories NHK (Feb. 10).
Last October, Masahiko Sugawara, who lives in Shinjuku Ward, allegedly took the feminine workplace employee, aged in her 20s, to his residence and sexually assaulting her.
Upon his arrest, Sugawara denied the allegations. “I don’t know which woman this is. I thought there was consent,” he stated.
Approximately one month previous to the incident, he approached the girl as she was strolling within the Kabukicho red-light district of Shinjuku. After exhibiting her some pictures he had taken, he stated, “I take street snapshots. I’ll take some promotional photos for you.”
They then exchanged contact info.
About one month later, when the girl requested him to take pictures for work, he took her to his residence, which he stated was his studio. He is believed to have then taken her to a room with a mattress, the place the alleged sexual assault occurred. The girl then reported the incident to police.
Tokyo police are investigating whether or not the incident is said to an identical inquiry made by a second girl.