Turkish man dies in Tokyo police custody after medical treatment

A 48-year-old Turkish man died while in police custody in Tokyo on July 2. He had been arrested five days earlier after a traffic accident involving property damage on an expressway in Hachioji. Police detained the man on suspicion of immigration law violations for not carrying required identification documents. On June 29 he reported abdominal pain while held at a detention facility.

Medical response Officials took the man to a hospital on July 1.

A doctor diagnosed appendicitis but determined he did not require admission and returned him to the facility. Early on July 2 the man was found unresponsive and lying face-up in a restroom at the Takao Police Station detention facility. m. An autopsy determined the death resulted from illness, though police have not disclosed the specific cause.

The Metropolitan Police Department has notified the Turkish Embassy of the arrest and death. Police are reviewing the conditions of his detention and the response to his reported medical symptoms.