Japanese police misconduct leads to home indictments in Kanagawa and arrest in Kobe

In Kanagawa Prefecture, three former traffic‑squad officers, including former sergeant Yūichi Nakata, were charged with home indictment for falsifying traffic‑stop records between 2024 and 2025. They were accused of recording violations that never occurred and of fabricating evidence of on‑site inspections. Four additional officers were either given deferred prosecution or not prosecuted. The Kanagawa Prefectural Police said the case is taken seriously and that preventive measures will be enforced.

In Kobe, a 35‑year‑old recycling‑business owner was arrested after allegedly accelerating his car during a police questioning, dragging a police sergeant who clung to the passenger side before the officer braked to stop the vehicle. No injuries were reported. The suspect faces charges of obstructing police duties.