Photo/Illutration A statement from a Hungarian police on its response to a Japanese woman who died after contacting them to report domestic violence (From the police website)

BERLIN—The former husband of a Japanese woman who died in late January in Hungary despite repeatedly reaching out to authorities has been arrested by Hungarian police on suspicion of murder. 

The woman's body was found after a fire broke out in a Budapest apartment on Jan. 29. The former husband, an Irish national, was arrested on Feb. 3 in Hungary. 

According to reports by local media, the woman had contacted police after being subjected to domestic violence and death threats.

The insufficient police action leading up to her death spurred protests by the woman's acquaintances and groups opposed to violence against women. 

After an internal investigation, police on Feb. 11 admitted that they had made a mistake in how the complaint was handled and began disciplinary proceedings against five officers.

Prior to contacting the police, the woman initially turned to the Japanese Embassy in Hungary twice. 

She spoke with the embassy in June 2022 and summer 2024 regarding the situation with the former husband and issuance of passports for her two children. 

Local media and other sources reported the woman had hoped to return to Japan with her children.

According to the embassy, it provided the woman with information to the effect that she should go to police if she was a victim of domestic violence and that the consent of both parents is required to issue children passports.

The embassy said, “All possible support had been provided.”

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