Nepali Mother Not Indicted Over Abandoning Deceased Newborn in Japanese-Language School Dormitory Closet, Tokyo Prosecutors Say
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.
The Tokyo District Public Prosecutors Office decided, effective August 7, 2026, not to indict Thapa Radha Kumari, 23, a Nepali national who had been arrested on suspicion of abandoning a corpse. According to TBS News DIG and other outlets, prosecutors said they were unable to gather sufficient evidence to bring charges.
The suspect had been arrested by the Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of abandoning her deceased newborn baby in a closet at a Japanese-language school dormitory in Higashi-Nippori, Arakawa Ward, Tokyo, between April 6 and 7, 2026. During questioning, she reportedly admitted to the allegations, saying she gave birth at home and placed the baby in the closet, and explained that "the baby I gave birth to had died, so I didn't know what to do and left it there."
Current status: The cause of the newborn's death and the specific evidentiary reasons behind the decision not to indict remain 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.