File photo 

By The South Asia Times

TOKYO — A 48-year-old Turkish national died from an illness while being held at a Tokyo police station after his arrest on an alleged immigration-related violation, Japanese authorities said, prompting an internal review of the circumstances surrounding his detention, according to Kyodo News.

According to Japanese police, the man was arrested on June 25 after allegedly failing to carry the required immigration documents following a traffic accident involving property damage on an expressway.

Police said the detainee complained of stomach pain several days after his arrest. He was examined by a doctor on July 1, who determined that hospitalization was not necessary, and he was returned to the detention facility.

In the early hours of July 2, officers found the man unresponsive in the restroom of the detention area at Takao Police Station in western Tokyo. He was transported to a hospital, where he was pronounced dead. An autopsy concluded that the cause of death was illness, although authorities did not disclose the specific medical condition.

Takao Police Station Chief Yukio Yamada expressed regret over the death and said the police would work to improve detention management and prevent similar incidents in the future. Police are also examining whether detention procedures and the medical response were appropriate.

Japanese authorities said they had informed the Turkish Embassy in Tokyo about the arrest, the circumstances of the death, and the autopsy findings.

As of Tuesday, Türkiye's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Turkish Embassy in Tokyo had not issued any public statement regarding the incident.

The death is the latest to raise scrutiny of detention conditions in Japan. In recent years, deaths in immigration and police custody—including the widely reported 2021 death of Sri Lankan detainee Wishma Sandamali at an immigration detention center—have prompted domestic and international criticism over detainee welfare and access to timely medical care. Japanese authorities have said they have taken steps to improve oversight and detention management following those cases.

Japan's police detention system, known as daiyo kangoku ("substitute prison"), has long been the subject of debate among legal experts and human rights organizations, which have called for stronger safeguards, particularly regarding access to legal counsel and medical treatment for detainees. Japanese authorities maintain that detainees receive appropriate care under existing regulations.