Japanese 'recruiter' rapes teenage singer

Manila police arrested on Saturday night a 54-year-old Japanese tourist for allegedly raping a 19-year-old aspiring entertainer in his hotel room.

The suspect, identified as Murami Naohiko, was arrested by operatives of the Manila Police District Women’s and Children’s Protection Desk (MPD-WCPD) upon the complaint of the alleged victim, whose name was withheld.

The victim alleged that she applied for a job as a singer in Japan when she learned that Murami was recruiting entertainers and met him Saturday night at a mall in Manila to hand over the required documents.

Murami allegedly invited the victim for dinner and brought her to a hotel, where he said he would sign the documents to enable her to travel to Japan.

At the hotel room, she said she drank a juice allegedly offered by Murami and felt dizzy afterwards.

When she regained consciousness, she allegedly found herself completely naked. The alleged victim said she dressed up and escaped while Murami was inside the bathroom.

She then went to the Ermita police station to report the incident. Responding policemen arrested Murami as he checked out of the hotel.

Murami is in the custody of the MPD-WCPD pending the filing of a rape charge against him.