Woman arrested over allegedly sewing roommate’s lips together in Japan

• Masae Sakurai, 49, was arrested in Koga, Japan, for allegedly sewing shut the lips of her 42-year-old roommate with a needle and thread on 29 June.
• The victim sustained injuries that left her unable to eat or speak, prompting her to escape the following day and seek help from a shop employee with a written note.
• Police are investigating the motive, circumstances, and the relationship between the two women, noting that other individuals may have been present during the incident.
• The victim told police she was prevented from fleeing sooner due to fear of Ms Sakurai.
• The two women had been living together at Ms Sakurai's house since around April 2024, with acquaintances suggesting Ms Sakurai often housed people who had left their homes.

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Japanese woman arrested for sewing roommate’s mouth shut