Japanese couple arrested for abusing teen daughter, confining her in small storage closet

A Japanese couple, along with their son, were arrested on suspicion that they abused their teenage daughter by locking her in a closet and restraining her limbs for "disciplinary purposes".

The suspected abuse was uncovered after the mother called emergency services in January when the daughter's body temperature became unusually low.

Doctor discovered signs of abuse

According to The Japan Times and Japan Today, the police announced the arrest of the couple, who are in their 40s, and their son, in his 20s, on Tuesday (May 12).

Earlier on Jan. 28, the mother called emergency services to seek help as the daughter's body temperature became unusually low.

The doctor who attended to the girl then noticed signs of physical abuse and alerted the authorities.

The girl weighed under 40kg when she was taken into protective care and was malnourished.

She was also found to be suffering from hypothermia and had bedsores.

Cameras recorded suspected abuse

Local police suspect that the parents had confined their teenage daughter, who reportedly suffers from intellectual disabilities, in a storage space measuring 172cm wide, 82cm high and 80cm deep.

She was also reportedly restrained by her limbs with homemade metal fittings.

According to The Japan Times, the family allegedly modified the lower section of the closet since September last year, adding doors and locks so it cannot be opened from the inside.

The abuse allegedly took place at the family's home in Machida, Tokyo.

Investigators found footage, recorded on cameras inside the home, showing the girl being bound with adhesive tape.

They also found signs of abuse on the girl's body, including multiple bruises and signs of healed fractures on her body.

She had also reportedly not attended school for several years.

The parents have denied some of the allegations, with the mother telling investigators that the confinement was for "disciplinary purposes".

The son told investigators he did not want to speak on the matter.