A 41-year-old man, Shohei Murakami, has been arrested on suspicion of assaulting a staff member of Lower House by-election candidate Hirotada Ototake during a campaign speech.
The incident occurred on Sunday evening near Kameido Station in Tokyo’s Koto Ward. Murakami allegedly pushed a male staff member, resulting in minor injuries.
The Metropolitan Police Department concluded that the assault was an act of election interference in violation of the Public Offices Election Law. Murakami appeared to be intoxicated at the time of the incident.
Conviction under the Public Offices Election Law carries a five-year suspension of voting rights and the eligibility for elections. The Lower House by-election in the Tokyo No. 15 district, to be held on Sunday, is a tight race among nine candidates, including Ototake.
