48-Year-Old Junior High Teacher Posed as Photographer to Lure High School Girls
“I didn’t do this at all.”
“I didn’t do this at all.”
“I’ll take your picture for you.”
The man claimed to be a photographer and sent this message to a high school girl, inviting her to join him.
On March 10, Isogo Police in Kanagawa Prefecture arrested Hiroaki Suzuki, 48, a public junior high school teacher in Kasukabe City, Saitama Prefecture, on suspicion of child prostitution. He is alleged to have committed lewd acts on an underage girl. The suspect denies the crime, saying, “I didn’t do it at all,” according to the police.
“The alleged incident occurred on August 26, 2022. The suspect went to a hotel in Yokohama City with a high school girl, A, who was 17 years old at the time, whom he met on SNS, promising to give her 30,000 yen. He stayed there for about two hours from around 9:30 p.m., and allegedly committed lewd acts on Ms. A. In October of the same year, Ms. A was accused of having been involved in another case.
In October of the same year, Ms. A was arrested for another matter, and the incident was discovered. The suspect sent direct messages to Ms. A and met her several times before committing the crime. It is said that Suzuki was cunning in his luring words, and in order to gain Ms. A’s attention, he sent messages claiming to be a photographer and saying that he had good contacts in the entertainment industry, and then lured her out.”
(A reporter from a national newspaper’s social division) The cameraman photographed the suspect’s arrest on March 11. He did not appear to be offended, but got into the convoy wearing glasses and a mask.
Former Kanagawa Prefectural Police detective and crime journalist Taihei Ogawa explains.
“He was 48 years old, so he must be a veteran teacher with more than 20 years of teaching experience. If the charges against him are true, it is unbelievable that he would commit such a crime in his position as a teacher of children. Moreover, the manner in which he lured her, such as by hinting at her relationship with the entertainment industry, was malicious. Since he denies all charges when questioned by the police, it is likely that he has no intention of settling with the victim. The truth will be revealed at the trial.”
In addition to Ms. A, several images of other women were stored on the suspect’s smartphone, which was confiscated. The police are investigating as if there are extra charges.
