University student, girlfriend face charges over false groping claim on subway

Police on Wednesday arrested a student at Konan University and his girlfriend on suspicion of setting up a male passenger with a false groping claim on the subway in February. Police allege that Fumiyuki Makita, 24, and his 31-year-old girlfriend conspired to frame a passenger on the Midosuji subway line in Osaka about 8:30 p.m. on Feb 1.


According to police, the woman yelled at a 58-year-old company employee, accusing him of touching her. Makita then approached the man to "help" the woman. The company employee was taken into custody by station staff and handed over to police. Makita told police he had never met the woman before and said that he had seen the man touching her hips. The man told police he could not have touched her because his hands were in his pocket.

Earlier this week, police said the woman had decided to drop the charges if the man was willing to pay compensation. Upon further questioning, she admitted that the charge was a fabrication and that the man who came to her aid was her boyfriend. She said he had conspired with her to set soneone up on the train so they could get money.

Police are continuing their investigation to see if the couple have done the same thing before to other passengers.

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