Kyoto police on Thursday arrested two men suspected of forcing a disabled coworker into an industrial washing machine and turning it on, injuring him.
Kazuki Naoe, 37, and Yosuke Kamijima, 37, employees of a cleaning company in Kyoto’s Shimogyo Ward, have confessed to the charges, police said.
On March 26 at around 2:30 p.m., the two suspects allegedly said to their colleague, a 50-year-old man with an intellectual disability: “You stink! Get in the washing machine.”
They reportedly forced him into the machine and turned it on, causing injuries that took two weeks to heal.
The company, which specializes in cleaning and leasing mascot costumes, traditional Japanese happy coats and school curtains, operates large washing machines with a capacity of approximately 100 kilograms and dimensions of approximately 2 meters high, wide and deep.
The victim sought medical attention a few days after the incident. The doctor who treated him noticed bruises and other injuries all over his body and reported the matter to the police.
Questioning the victim revealed that there had been more cases of abuse in the past. That is why the police want to investigate possible bullying in the workplace.
Translated by The Japan Times
