Sri Lankan National, 25, Arrested Over Unlicensed, Drunk Driving After Single-Vehicle Crash Into Drainage Ditch in Susono, Shizuoka
This article organizes publicly available information into a single account. Where it describes an arrest or an ongoing investigation, that reflects only one stage of criminal procedure and does not mean guilt has been established (the presumption of innocence applies). We will update this article as new information becomes available, including the outcome of prosecution, non-prosecution, or trial. This article is not intended to unfairly disparage any individual, group, nationality, ethnicity, or belief, and aims to provide objective, fact-based information.
Shizuoka Prefectural Police announced in July 2026 that it had arrested a Sri Lankan national laborer, 25, living in Fuji City, on suspicion of violating the Road Traffic Act (unlicensed driving and drunk driving). According to a report by Shizuoka Asahi TV, he is accused of driving a passenger car without a license while intoxicated in Susono City around midnight on the 27th of that month, causing a single-vehicle accident and crashing into a drainage ditch. The case came to light about 50 minutes after the crash, when a passerby who came upon the scene called police. A breath test found alcohol levels exceeding the legal limit. The man reportedly has no record of ever having obtained a driver's license in Japan.
Police are investigating the vehicle's ownership, where the man had been drinking, and the circumstances that led him to drive.
Current status: Whether the case will be referred for prosecution remains unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Editorial Perspective
No decision on indictment has been made at this stage, so this article reflects information from the investigative phase. An arrest is only one step in criminal procedure and does not establish guilt (the presumption of innocence). According to National Police Agency and Ministry of Justice statistics, the number of Penal Code cases involving foreign nationals visiting Japan has risen for two consecutive years since 2023, but remains below its mid-2000s peak (related article). A single case does not necessarily reflect the broader statistical trend; further developments are worth watching.