Investigations into the brutal kidnapping and murder of a 23-year-old man in Amagasaki, Hyogo Prefecture, have deepened with the arrest of two more suspects on charges of abandoning the victim's body. The case has shocked the nation with its violence, and the victim's body has yet to be found.

Expanding Web of Arrests

Hyogo Prefectural Police arrested two men, identified as a 33-year-old executive of a gang affiliated with the Yamaguchi-gumi and a 27-year-old man. They are suspected of conspiring to transport the body from a mountainside in Kyoto Prefecture to a remote area in Kochi Prefecture in mid-June, transferring it between vehicles along the way. The two are believed to have prepared and provided the vehicles used for this gruesome task. With these latest arrests, a total of 12 people have been taken into custody in connection with the case.

A Violent Abduction

The victim was violently assaulted on a street in Amagasaki on the night of June 11 before being forced into a car. Police began making arrests in July, initially for confinement, and later re-arrested four individuals, including members of a rival gang, on murder charges. While police believe the man is dead, the extensive and multi-prefectural effort to locate his remains has so far been unsuccessful.

Ongoing Investigation

The police have not revealed the suspects' statements regarding the latest charges. The investigation continues as authorities work to piece together the full sequence of events and locate the victim's body to bring a measure of closure to the family.