Brazilian National, 35, Arrested on the Spot for Driving Kei Truck Without a License in Nabari, Mie Prefecture
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.
Mie Prefectural Police's Nabari Station announced that it arrested a 35-year-old unemployed Brazilian national living in Konan City, Shiga Prefecture, on the spot on August 8, 2026 on suspicion of violating the Road Traffic Act (unlicensed driving). According to a report by Iga Town Information YOU, he is accused of driving a kei truck around 10:20 p.m. that day on a municipal road in the Shimohinachi area of Nabari City without a driver's license issued by the Public Safety Commission.
An officer on patrol spotted the man driving without wearing a seatbelt and asked him to stop, but he continued driving for several minutes before stopping. A check after he stopped the vehicle revealed he had no license, and police found no record that he had ever obtained one.
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.