A Pakistani Muslim man allegedly molested a high school girl on a Tokyo train before dragging her off at the last stop and sexually assaulting her.
Afzal Muhammad, 31, a student at a vocational school in Nakagami-cho, Akishima City, was arrested by officers from Tokyo Metropolitan Police’s Takao Police Station on September 11, Japanese media outlets reported.
Muhammad was taken into custody and questioned on suspicion of attacking the girl, who was asleep on a JR Chuo Line train on her way home from school, between 1.30 and 3pm on August 22.
He is accused of groping the girl’s breasts, removing her underwear and committing other indecent acts while on the train, before taking her bag and dragging her off the train by the arm at Takao Station.
The girl was then allegedly forced into some bushes 500 to 600 metres from the station and sexually assaulted by Muhammad.
Police said they became away of the alleged attack at 3.40pm after the girl managed to escape and told Takao Station staff who called emergency services.
Investigators then identified Muhammad with the help of CCTV footage.
Muhammad denies the charges, and reportedly said during questioning: “It’s true that I met the woman, but it was with her consent.”
The investigation is ongoing.
