The unsolved murder case at the Nampei Owada store in Hachioji City, Tokyo, where three female employees were shot dead, marks its 30th anniversary on July 30th. During the challenging investigation, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department identified a suspect known as “Motomura,” a Chinese man believed to have committed the robbery based on information from an acquaintance. Interviews with former investigators reveal more about the case.
One Japanese prisoner claimed that a man named Motomura confessed to being involved in the Hachioji robbery-murder case. Additionally, a former death row inmate, Teruo Takeda, heard from a younger Chinese associate of Motomura that he had informed the perpetrator about the large amount of money stored at the supermarket, and that the assailant was surprised to find three employees present.
From these accounts, the police believed that Motomura hailed from Fuzhou, Fujian province, and was a key figure in a Chinese robbery gang operating in Tokyo, known for using guns and adhesive tape in crimes similar to the Nampei case.
In November 2013, police arrested a Chinese man who was a former associate of Motomura in Canada, for passport fraud. However, his connection to the Nampei incident wasn’t clearly established. During the trial, testimony suggested this man had ties to a robbery group, but he eventually returned to Canada after receiving a suspended sentence in 2014.
At one point, a new leader overseeing the investigation decided not to pursue leads involving the Chinese robbery gang, causing the probe to diminish and eventually stop, leaving Motomura untraced.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is still seeking information regarding the case and encourages people to contact the Hachioji Police Station with any leads. Despite previous efforts to identify suspects through fingerprints or DNA, the case remains unresolved.
by MagazineKey4532