Taxi Driver Accused of Non-Consensual Sex After Entering a Drunk Female Passenger’s Room Shows No “Sense of Guilt”

A suspicious note and emergency contraception were found in the mailbox…

“If you want to see me again, call this number”

A woman who took a taxi home after a drinking party on the night of October 6 reportedly fell asleep in the cab and had no memory of what happened until she woke up on the morning of the 7th. However, on the evening of the 8th, a note with the message quoted above was found in her mailbox.

“On October 22, ’26, the Nogata Police Station of the Metropolitan Police Department arrested taxi driver Masatoshi Tomo (44) on suspicion of non-consensual sexual intercourse and other charges.He is suspected of sexually assaulting a female passenger in her 20s—who had boarded the taxi in an intoxicated state late on October 6—after dropping her off at her home and entering her room.

During questioning, Suspect Tomo reportedly denied the charges, stating, ‘We had sexual intercourse, but it wasn’t forced’” (Social Affairs Reporter, National Newspaper)

On the morning of October 24, Suspect Tomo appeared at the Nogata Police Station’s transfer gate with his chin raised and a sullen expression. Just before being transported to the prosecutor’s office in a police van, he looked up at the sky.

On the morning of the 7th, immediately after the incident, the woman reportedly felt something was off after waking up but did not realize she had been assaulted. However, on the evening of the 8th, she discovered the note mentioned at the beginning of this article and emergency contraception pills in her mailbox. She went to the hospital the following day, the 9th, and consulted with the police.

“After receiving the woman’s report, the Nogata Police Station conducted an investigation and found that security camera footage showed Suspect Tomoo entering the apartment building’s entrance with the woman, who was staggering. It is believed that he remained in her apartment for about 20 minutes. The note that was slipped into her mailbox also included Suspect Tomoo’s cell phone number” (ibid.).

Previous Crimes Committed by Taxi Drivers

What kind of person is the suspect, Tom? His home, a 10-minute walk from the nearest station, was a two-story apartment located in a peaceful residential neighborhood surrounded by bamboo groves and other natural features.

When shown a photo of Suspect Tomoe, a local resident said , “I’m not sure if I’ve seen him before, ” but added that he had never caused any trouble.

On the other hand, another resident told us, “There was an incident that made me feel something was off.”

“Early one morning, a car I didn’t usually see was parked on the road (near the apartment building), and a man was sitting inside. I wondered what he was doing, but looking back now, he might have been a police officer.”

Sexual assault cases involving taxi drivers have occurred in the past.

The most widely reported case is likely that of defendant Toshishi Tanaka (55), who was arrested last May and is currently on trial.Tanaka allegedly gave a heavily intoxicated female passenger a drink laced with sleeping pills to make her drowsy, then sexually assaulted her in his car and elsewhere, while filming the acts with his smartphone. A USB drive seized from Tanaka’s home contained nearly 3,000 obscene images of approximately 50 women.

In court, Tanaka stated , “I have absolutely no memory of sexually assaulting the passengers, but if the footage exists, I admit to the crimes.” However, he had attempted to destroy evidence by turning off his dashcam during the time periods when the assaults are believed to have occurred.

While it is not yet clear whether the defendant Tanaka is a repeat offender, suspect Tomoe shows absolutely no sense of having committed a crime—as evidenced by the fact that he went out of his way to write down his own cell phone number and mail it. During questioning, he stated ,“Itwasn’t forced, ” but will he really argue in court that “there was consent” even though the woman was heavily intoxicated and unconscious?