A Japanese man has been brought to trial for illegally filming over 1,000 women bathing at an onsen (hot spring) using a fake rock with a hidden camera embedded inside.
According to the South China Morning Post (SCMP), on September 10, the suspect, a resident of Fukushima Prefecture, was arrested in May after setting up a camera at a hot spring in Yamagata Prefecture. His capture followed a woman at the onsen noticing a reflection of light off the rock and reporting the suspicious object to the police.
The authorities retrieved the artificial rock containing the hidden camera and apprehended the suspect when he returned to collect the device.
Investigations revealed that the suspect had posed as a hiker, using a camouflage net to conceal himself while operating the camera. He had purchased lenses online and crafted the fake rock using clay and brown plastic.
The footage recovered by the police showed 44 victims. The suspect admitted that since 2022, he had used this method to film over 1,000 women at various hot springs. Authorities also disclosed that he had a prior conviction for possessing child exploitation material.
The prosecution has described the crime as “premeditated and repetitive,” seeking a two-year prison sentence for the suspect. The court is expected to deliver its verdict on September 17.
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