Miyazaki Disability Support Facility Employee Arrested on Suspicion of Assault and Abusive Behaviour Towards Five Residents

From NHK

December 23 2023

MIYAZAKI -A 27-year-old employee of a support facility for people with disabilities in Miyazaki City was arrested on the night of December 22nd on suspicion of assault after allegedly punching a resident in his 50s this month.

Miyazaki City has revealed that this employee has been confirmed to have committed abusive behavior towards a total of five residents, and has decided to issue administrative guidance to the facility in the future.

According to the police, on the 16th of this month, he was suspected of assaulting a man, a resident of the facility in his 50s, including tying clothing around his neck and hanging him up, and punching him in the cheek.

In response to police investigation, he admitted the charges, saying, “There is no doubt about it.”

According to Miyazaki City, the staff member has been working since March this year, and based on footage from security cameras and interviews with staff members, there are also four other staff members, mainly during night shifts, for a total of five residents. They confirmed that the victim was hit on the face, head and back, and strangled with clothing.

There are no confirmed injuries to these five people.

In response to an interview with the city, a staff member explained that the abuse began in July this year, saying, “The resident came out of his room at night and wouldn’t obey even when I gave him verbal warnings, so I got into trouble.” ” is what he is talking about.

The city has determined that this behavior constitutes “physical abuse” and will investigate whether any other residents have been harmed, and will issue administrative guidance to the facility.

Toyoichi, head of the Miyazaki City Guidance and Inspection Division, said, “Abuse is an act that should not be allowed, and we take it very seriously.We will continue to investigate and work to prevent abuse from happening in the future.”