"Taxi Driver Removes Female Passenger's Shoes and Licks Her Foot"... Japan Shocked by Grotesque Crime

Reached Over from Driver's Seat to Commit the Crime
Local Police Arrest Taxi Driver in His 30s

A taxi driver in Japan has been arrested by police on charges of sexually assaulting a female passenger, including licking her foot, while driving.

According to Hokkaido media outlet uhb on the 21st, local police arrested a 33-year-old taxi driver, referred to as Mr. A, who resides in Toyohira Ward, Sapporo, on July 18 on charges of committing indecent acts without consent.

Taxi stock photo. The photo is for the reader's understanding and is unrelated to the main text. Pixabay

Mr. A is accused of removing the shoes of a female passenger in her 20s and licking her foot inside the taxi while driving from Shiroishi Ward to Atsubetsu Ward in Sapporo between 3:50 a.m. and 4:10 a.m. on July 5. It was reported that Mr. A reached over from the driver's seat to commit this act.

After getting out of the taxi, the victim reported to the police that "the taxi driver licked my foot." Immediately after the incident, Mr. A was dismissed by the taxi company. It has been reported that Mr. A has admitted to the charges. The police have secured CCTV footage and are investigating the possibility of additional victims.

Experts point out that in service environments like taxis, where interactions are one-on-one, safety systems for crime prevention are extremely important. They advise that, because crimes can occur by exploiting vulnerabilities such as enclosed spaces, the absence of companions, and non-face-to-face ride-hailing methods, it is necessary to actively introduce technical measures such as installing emergency bells or real-time recording devices to enhance user safety.