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Teenage Girl Allegedly Groped by 19-Year-Old Man During Earthquake Evacuation

Kanazawa, Jan 22, 2024 (News On Japan) - A 19-year-old man from Kanazawa was arrested Saturday on suspicion of indecent assault for allegedly touching the body of a teenage girl who had taken refuge in a car after the Noto Peninsula earthquake.

The arrested individual is a 19-year-old self-proclaimed part-time worker residing in Kanazawa City. Between January 1st and 3rd, while the car was parked in Wajima City, it is alleged that he touched the body of a teenage girl multiple times over her clothing.

According to the police, the girl had been returning home with her family and had allowed the unfamiliar man to ride in the car due to the chaos following the earthquake.

Upon receiving a complaint from the girl's family, the man was arrested yesterday. He is reported to have admitted to the allegations during the investigation.

The police state that this is the first instance of a sexual crime being uncovered in the earthquake-affected areas of the Noto Peninsula.

Source: TBS

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