Japanese woman’s death in Budapest: Police apologise for insensitive handling of domestic violence case
The Hungarian Police have issued a formal apology for their inappropriate communication regarding the case of a Japanese woman who died in an apartment fire in Budapest’s 5th district. The incident, which initially was not treated as a homicide, has sparked public outrage due to the police’s handling of the situation and their subsequent communication.
Official apology
Kristóf Gál, the spokesperson for the Hungarian Police, delivered a video statement on the organisation’s YouTube channel, saying:
“Disrespectful, unnecessary, and unworthy communication took place in connection with the case of the woman who died in the 5th district apartment fire. On behalf of the Hungarian Police, I apologise to all those who were understandably and rightfully outraged, scandalised, and offended by this.”
Gál emphasised that this incident should not be used to judge the overall work of the Hungarian police and acknowledged that the unacceptable communication style overshadowed the professional work of investigators, crime scene technicians, and experts involved in the case, 444.hu reports.
Background of the case
The case involves a Japanese woman who died on 29th January in an apartment in Budapest’s 5th district. Initially, the police ruled out foul play. However, the Patent Association later released a statement indicating that they had been in contact with the victim for a year and a half, and she had filed several complaints against her ex-husband, which the police allegedly did not address, Telex writes.
Controversial communication
The Budapest Police Department (BRFK) faced criticism for their extremely insensitive communication on their Facebook page. Some examples include:
- Responding with a winking emoji to a comment criticising the police’s effectiveness.
- Questioning a commenter who stated that the victim didn’t smoke, asking “How do you know?” The commenter replied that they knew the deceased personally.
Case development
In a surprising turn of events, the police held a press conference on 4th February, announcing that the case was now being treated as a homicide, 444.hu writes. The main suspect is the victim’s ex-husband, who has been taken into custody.
Public response and criticism
The case has generated significant public outcry, with friends of the victim organising a memorial in front of the house where she lost her life. They had been pushing for nearly a week for the police to consider the suspicious circumstances surrounding the incident. Júlia Spronz, a lawyer from the Patent Association, spoke to Telex about how the Japanese woman had long been living in fear of her ex-husband.
Future actions
The National Police Chief has ordered a review of the communication practices. The police have pledged to listen to and utilise constructive criticism and comments, acknowledging their moral and legal duty to assist those in need.
Read also: