71-Year-Old Part-Time Employee Arrested for Allegedly Assaulting Disabled Patient on Bus

Unexplained message reveals the crime

It’s hard to believe that he would commit a crime.

That’s what residents in the neighborhood of Susumu Motohashi, 71, who was arrested on suspicion of non-consensual sexual intercourse, said.

On October 16, the Koganei Police Station of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department arrested Motohashi, a part-time employee driving a bus to and from the facility, for sexually assaulting Ms. A, a woman in her 20s who was using the facility for the disabled.

The suspect, Motohashi, had been the driver for approximately three years.” It is believed that he committed the crime on the evening of July 19, 2012, when he was alone with Ms. A after finishing transporting other users.

After the crime, Motohashi sent messages to Ms. A on her cell phone, telling her not to tell anyone and to erase the messages she exchanged with him. When Ms. A’s family noticed the messages and consulted the police in September, the crime was discovered.

Motohashi’s house is located in a peaceful residential area with farms and fields, about 15 minutes by bus from the nearest station. A plate reading “neighborhood association president” was posted beside the nameplate of his house.

A woman living nearby could not hide her surprise upon hearing the news of the incident.

She said, “Mr. Motohashi was the head of the neighborhood association as the head of the neighborhood association. I thought he was a fine man,’ she said, ‘and that he was now driving a shuttle bus after retiring from his previous job. I heard about the incident on the Internet news. He was a serious person with no problems, so I was really surprised. That’s all.

With their “inheritance,” they had no trouble making a living.

The Motohashi family used to be the landowners of the entire area. A man who has lived in the area for a long time spoke about his impression of the Motohashi family.

He said, “Now there are houses for sale, but originally all the land in this area belonged to the Motohashi family. Susumu’s late brother inherited the land. They are known as a prominent family in this area. Like all farmers around here, the eldest son takes over the farm and the second son works for the agricultural cooperative.

Susumu also worked for the cooperative until his retirement. Susumu would have received an inheritance as well, so he would have had no trouble making a living. I wonder if he started working as a driver because he thought it was no use staying at home. I often saw him riding his bicycle on weekends and holidays wearing a baseball uniform, as if he was also involved in youth baseball.

A member of the neighborhood association also reiterated , “I can’t believe it.

The president (Motohashi) is a very serious person, and recently he led the neighborhood association’s festival and made sure it was a success. I have never seen anyone speak ill of him. That is why I am really disappointed. ……

Despite the disappointment of those around him, the investigation continues.

The suspect denies the charge, saying he did not do anything indecent. On the other hand, the woman stated, “Motohashi did the same thing to me several times.

Did the “persona” have an underhanded face? …… The police are investigating Motohashi, believing that he is guilty of other crimes.