ECUADOR: Ecuadorean authorities continue investigating recent murder of Japanese tourist

Record ID: 467663

  • Title: ECUADOR: Ecuadorean authorities continue investigating recent murder of Japanese tourist
  • Date: 8th January 2014
  • Summary: GUAYAQUIL, ECUADOR (JANUARY 07, 2014) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WALKING THROUGH PLAZA GENERAL VIEW OF TAXIS QUEUING OUTSIDE HOTEL TAXI DRIVING PASSED SHERATON HOTEL ATTORNEY GENERAL PAUL PONCE SITTING AT HIS DESK (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) ATTORNEY GENERAL PAUL PONCE SAYING: "We have to express our absolute rejection and repudiation of this criminal act that has really damaged the image of the city over the last few days. The crime of 'express kidnapping', those type of kidnappings that are carried out against people who use public transportation - in this case a taxi - is a crime that has been decreasing in our city. Mainly because the authorities have implemented a series of mechanisms such as 'secure taxi', for example, that are taxis that are equipped with video cameras, with microphones, precisely to prevent these types of crimes. Sadly, this was something that the Japanese citizens were unaware of. They had arrived to this city, the boarded a taxi at night and were assaulted inside the vehicle. There was possibly some sort of quarrel that led to this reproachable act by the suspects who carried out the crime." VARIOUS OF CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION UNIT ENTERING HILTON HOTEL VARIOUS OF INVESTIGATORS OUTSIDE HOTEL VARIOUS OF INVESTIGATORS, WITH PROSECUTOR AND OTHER OFFICIALS OUTSIDE HOTEL (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PROSECUTOR ASSIGNED TO THE CASE, CESAR PENA DURAN, SAYING: "What I can say is that attorney general, the police and the Interior Ministry will find these criminals. You can be certain that there will be justice here. This case will not go unpunished, that is guaranteed." VARIOUS OF JAPANESE AND LOCAL JOURNALISTS OUTSIDE HOTEL
  • Embargoed: 23rd January 2014 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Ecuador
  • Country: Ecuador
  • Reuters ID: LVA13DU2FV4RYQ2BHVH1W773DZV8
  • Story Text: Ecuadorean authorities continued investigating on Tuesday (January 07) the recent murder of a Japanese tourist, a victim of an apparent 'express kidnapping' in the coastal city of Guayaquil.
    The body of 28-year-old Japanese man and a severely injured woman identified as his new wife were found in Guayaquil this week. According to the Kyodo News Agency, Japanese authorities have confirmed their identities as Tetsuo Hitomi and his wife Mariko.
    Attorney General Paul Ponce told Reuters Television told reporters that everything was being done to find the suspects.

    "We have to express our absolute rejection and repudiation of this criminal act that has really damaged the image of the city over the last few days. The crime of 'express kidnapping', those types of kidnappings that are carried out against people who use public transportation - in this case a taxi - is a crime that has been decreasing in our city. Mainly because the authorities have implemented a series of mechanisms such as 'secure taxi'," Ponce said.

    "Sadly, this was something that the Japanese citizens were unaware of. They had arrived to this city, the boarded a taxi at night and were assaulted inside the vehicle. There was possibly some sort of quarrel that led to this reproachable act by the suspects who carried out the crime," he added.
    The prosecutor assigned to the case told journalists that the suspects would be found.

    "What I can say is that attorney general, the police and the Interior Ministry will find these criminals. You can be certain that there will be justice here. This case will not go unpunished, that is guaranteed," Cesar Pena Duran, the prosecutor assigned to the case, said outside the Hilton Hotel.
    The case also got the attention of President Rafael Correa who vowed a thorough investigation on Saturday. During his weekly television address, he underscored the issue of taxi safety in Ecuador.
    Meanwhile, Hitomi's wife Mariko remains in an Ecuadorean hospital where she is recovering.
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