Japan is committed to investigating the murder of Vietnamese girl Le Thi Nhat Linh in Chiba prefecture and punishing the culprit in line with the law, Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida said on April 14.
He extended deep condolences to the family of the 9-year-old girl.
At a working session with Vietnamese Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Fumio Kishida informed his guest that Japanese police arrested a suspect in the murder, a 46-year-old man named Shibuya Yasumasa, on the morning of April 14.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Japan was also informed of the arrest by the local police on April 14, and promptly notified Linh’s parents, who are currently in Vietnam.
The embassy will keep watch on the case’s developments and assist Linh’s family to travel to Japan for upcoming procedures.
It will work closely with Japanese agencies to soon bring the culprit to justice.
A representative from the embassy said after the tragedy, many Japanese have sent letters to express their condolences and their hope that the case will not affect Vietnam-Japan relations.
According to police of Japan’s Chiba prefecture, Shibuya Yasumasa, 46, is the girl’s neighbour and his DNA matched samples police collected on the girl’s belongings. However, he still keeps silence on the case.
Linh, who was in her third year at Matsudo elementary school in Chiba prefecture, went missing on the morning of March 24.
Her body was found on March 26 morning at a site near a drainage ditch which is about 10-12km from the school.
