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Ex-Yamanashi assembly member apologizes over Kofu Station photo booth urination
En breve
Iijima Osamu, 72, who resigned as a Yamanashi prefectural assembly member on Oct 1, apologized at a press conference on Oct 6 over urinating inside a photo booth at JR Kofu Station. He said he has no memory of the act after drinking at a gathering on Sept 25, and that he later borrowed a mop and cleaned the booth himself. Yamanashi prefectural police questioned him voluntarily on suspicion of violating the Minor Offenses Act, and the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan's prefectural chapter expelled him.
Leer la noticia completa 2 min de lectura
Iijima Osamu, 72, a former Yamanashi prefectural assembly member, apologized at a press conference on Oct 6 over urinating inside a photo booth at JR Kofu Station. Asahi Shimbun reported that he read from a prepared statement and said he had caused “enormous trouble” to residents and those involved and was “truly sorry.” Nippon TV News quoted him saying, “I am very sorry.” [ 1 , 2 ]
Describing the night, Iijima said he attended a social gathering from about 17:30 on Sept 25 and drank alcohol, after which his memory went blank, and that he has no memory of the act he is accused of. He said the next thing he remembers is talking with police officers who had come to the station's ticket gate area, and that he later borrowed a mop and cleaned the photo booth himself. Asahi Shimbun placed that memory at around midnight. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Yamanashi prefectural police questioned him voluntarily on suspicion of violating the Minor Offenses Act and are continuing to investigate, according to the reports. The documents do not say whether any charging decision has been made. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
Iijima resigned as a prefectural assembly member on Oct 1. Yomiuri Shimbun reported that he submitted his resignation to the assembly speaker and it was approved that day, and that the Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan's Yamanashi prefectural chapter held an emergency meeting on Oct 2 and decided to expel him. Asahi Shimbun said he had served as a vice head of the chapter and had won four terms from the Kofu city district. [ 1 , 4 ]
The press conference lasted about 13 minutes and no questions were taken, according to Asahi Shimbun. Yomiuri Shimbun reported that a document was distributed to media beforehand stating there would be no question and answer session, and that the moderator ended the conference by saying questions would be answered in writing later. TBS NEWS DIG described the format as unusual. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Por qué importa
The case ended the career of a four-term prefectural assembly member and cost him his party membership, a rare exit from elected office over an alleged minor offense. It remains a police matter, so the outcome of the investigation is still open. As a local scandal in Yamanashi, its significance is largely limited to prefectural politics.
Datos clave
- Iijima Osamu, 72, held a press conference on Oct 6 and apologized over the incident at JR Kofu Station. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- He said he had no memory of the act, and that his next memory was of talking with police officers near the station's ticket gates, after which he borrowed a mop and cleaned the photo booth. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- He resigned as a Yamanashi prefectural assembly member on Oct 1. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Yamanashi prefectural police questioned him voluntarily on suspicion of violating the Minor Offenses Act, and say they are continuing to investigate. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan's Yamanashi prefectural chapter expelled him, where he had served as a vice head. [ 1 , 4 ]
- He won four terms from the Kofu city district and had submitted his resignation to the assembly speaker on Oct 1. [ 1 , 4 ]
- He took no questions at the press conference, and it ended after about 13 minutes. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmado por varias fuentes
- Iijima Osamu, 72, apologized at a press conference on Oct 6 over urinating inside a photo booth at JR Kofu Station. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- He said he has no memory of the act; his next memory was of speaking with police near the station ticket gates around midnight, after which he borrowed a mop and cleaned the booth himself. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- He resigned as a Yamanashi prefectural assembly member on Oct 1. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- Yamanashi prefectural police questioned him voluntarily on suspicion of violating the Minor Offenses Act. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- The Constitutional Democratic Party of Japan's Yamanashi prefectural chapter expelled him, and he had been a vice head of the chapter. [ 1 , 4 ]
- He did not take questions at the press conference. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Aún sin aclarar
- Whether police will seek charges or refer the case to prosecutors, and when. The documents say only that police are investigating on suspicion of a Minor Offenses Act violation; no decision or referral is reported.
- The exact time the act is alleged to have occurred. The documents give the 17:30 start of the drinking gathering and a memory gap until around midnight, but no time for the incident itself.
- What Iijima told police about the incident. The documents report only that he was questioned voluntarily and that he described the night at his press conference; no statement to police is quoted.
Qué dicen los medios locales
Cronología, hora local
- Iijima attends a social gathering, saying he drank alcohol and later lost his memory; other documents say the gathering was held with fellow assembly members. [ 1 , 2 , 4 ]
- His next memory is of speaking with police officers near the ticket gates at JR Kofu Station, after which he borrowed a mop and cleaned the photo booth, he said. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Asahi Shimbun publishes its report on Iijima's press conference that day; the conference ran about 13 minutes and took no questions. [ 1 , 3 ]