Photo/Illutration Fukuoka prefectural police officers remove evidence from a facility in Kurume operated by Saruku. (Akari Sugiyama)

Police have arrested the head of a support organization for children with developmental disabilities on suspicion he unlawfully confined a 14-year-old junior high school student.

Fukuoka prefectural police announced on July 20 that they arrested Shinichi Sakaue, 57, who heads Saruku, an organization based in Fukuoka city, which operates a facility in Kurume, Fukuoka Prefecture, for children with developmental disabilities, and Hiroshi Matsubara, 37.

Matsubara is an elementary school teacher in Fukuoka Prefecture who has worked with children with disabilities and had learned techniques used by Sakaue.

According to Fukuoka police, Sakaue and Matsubara are suspected of visiting the Nagasaki Prefecture home of the 14-year-old boy on Oct. 9, 2021. They allegedly wrapped zip ties around his hands and feet, covered his head with a bag and took him to the Saruku facility in Kurume, where he was confined for two days.

The boy was forced to write an apology for his actions.

According to investigative sources, police found evidence suggesting the pair might be involved in about 10 similar incidents.

Police first became interested in the Saruku facility when a female employee was arrested in November 2021 on suspicion of hitting an elementary school student who had been visiting there for help.

Sources said the employee said violence was tolerated within the facility, leading to further questioning of Sakaue and others working there. Sakaue denied any involvement in violence during voluntary questioning by police.

But another minor who took part in a “camp” described a similar experience.

He described losing his ability to move freely because he was zip-tied. He said his eyes were covered with tape and a gunnysack was placed over his head. He was then forced into a car without being told where he was being taken.

He found himself in the middle of a mountainous area after the gunnysack and tape were removed.

He was told to describe the bad things he did or face the prospect of being buried in the mountains or drowning in a pond. When he refused, he was beaten.

The youth then talked about how much trouble he had caused his parents.

The interview session was videotaped and sent to the mother to confirm its accuracy.

Before he took part in the camp, the mother was told by Sakaue that he would not be harmed. The mother paid about 700,000 yen ($5,050) to have her son  participate in the camp.

(This article was written by Daichi Itakura and Akari Sugiyama.)

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