The Budapest and National Police Headquarters announced in a joint press conference on 11 February 2025 in Budapest, Hungary that, after an internal investigation, they had sanctioned five of their officers involved in the case of a Japanese woman murdered in Budapest on 29 January.

The Budapest police originally ruled out homicide as the cause of death for the Japanese woman. Only after the autopsy report, which found evidence of abuse, had it opened a murder investigation, with the woman’s Irish ex-husband being the primary suspect. The Irish man has since been placed in custody. However, it was also revealed that the victim had contacted the police alleging domestic abuse before; and reported that he had taken her laptop as well. This is what prompted the police’s internal investigation, which led to punitive action against five officers.

One unit leader has been dismissed from their position; while a lieutenant unit leader has been assigned to another post. The remaining three of the five officers sanctioned have not been specified at the press conference. In addition, the person in charge of the Budapest Police Headquarters’ official Facebook page, who posted insensitive replies to some of the users inquiring about the case, has been dismissed as well.

The police will also increase the number of officers who undertake sensitivity training about the handling of domestic violence cases; and will review all DV reports filed with them in the last year.

The 43-year-old Japanese victim was found dead in her burnt-down apartment late last month. It was her ex-husband who reported the house fire. According to her lawyer, the victim had contacted the Japanese Embassy in Budapest in the past as well, claiming that her abusive ex-spouse had taken her passport, which prevented her from travelling back to Japan with her two children, but the Embassy did not provide her with a new passport. The Japanese Embassy has not confirmed that claim.

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