Cambodian Man Arrested for Hiding Six Cable Cutters in Car — First Arrest Under Aichi's Metal Theft Law
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.
Aichi Prefectural Police announced by August 19, 2026 that they had arrested San Piseth, 26, a Cambodian national and company employee residing in Ogaki City, Gifu Prefecture, on suspicion of violating the metal theft prevention law. According to CBC TV, Tokai TV and other outlets, he is accused of hiding six cable cutters in the trunk of his car without justification in Naka Ward, Nagoya City, on August 3, 2026. The cutters were discovered during a search of his vehicle after he was arrested on an unrelated charge.
The suspect has denied the allegations under questioning, saying, "I didn't even know they were in the car, and they're not mine." Aichi Prefecture has recorded roughly 140 cases of cable theft from solar power facilities and other sites in 2026, and this marks the prefecture's first arrest under the metal theft prevention law, which took effect in September 2025.
Current status: The details of the unrelated charge that led to his initial arrest, and whether this case will be referred for prosecution, 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.