Peruvian man detained for alleged sexual assault on high‑school student aboard Saitama train

Police in Saitama Prefecture arrested a 59‑year‑old Peruvian resident of Kawagoe after a junior‑high student reported being touched on a Tobu Tojo line train on 17 June. The incident occurred between Asakadai and Shiki stations around 5:35 p.m. The student grabbed the suspect’s arm and disembarked at Shiki, where railway staff alerted authorities. Officers from Niiza precinct apprehended the man on the spot. He denies the allegation, claiming the contact was accidental. Investigators are treating the case as a violation of Japan’s Article 176 indecency law, which carries a potential prison term of six months to ten years. The police continue to gather evidence and statements while the suspect remains in custody.