Japanese national held in custody for holiday vandalism

A Japanese national with little understanding of English spent five days in the cell waiting for an interpreter after he flipped out and trashed his room at the Pure Land Guest House.

A JAPANESE national in Australia on a work visa will return to his homeland $500 poorer after he trashed a room at the Pure Land Guest House.

Hyouga Izumida appeared in Toowoomba Magistrates Court today, to plead guilty to two counts of wilful damage and two drug offences.

Police Prosecutor Chris Wilson said officers were called the Pure Land complex after reports of man breaking a door and punching staff.

They arrived to find evidence of the damage along with a remorseful Izumida.

Through his limited English Izumida admitted to kicking the door in, because he was angry.

Police arrested Izumida and held him in custody in the Toowoomba Watch House until they could source an interpreter.

During a later interview Izumida admitted to throwing stones at a vehicle in Gatton, between December 11-14.

Duty lawyer Brad Skuse said his client was in Australia on a work visa, but was likely to return to Japan, as his work had ‘dried up.’

In sentencing, Magistrate Andrew Cridland took into account the five days Izumida had spent in pre-sentence custody, and his non-existent criminal history.

He ordered that Izumida pay $500 restitution for the damaged car and for all other offences, he was convicted and not further punished.