Japanese professional basketball player Kotela was arrested by Kumamoto police for molesting women and stealing underwear

Japanese professional basketball player Kotela was arrested by the Kumamoto Prefecture police on suspicion of molesting women and stealing underwear. (Picture taken from B League official website)

Hamilton Gary Kotera, a 42-year-old player of the Japan Professional Basketball League B League, was arrested by the police on suspicion of molesting a 20-year-old woman in a mixed residential and commercial building in Chuo-ku, Kumamoto City, Kumamoto Prefecture on the 26th. He also stole underwear.

According to the "Sankei Shimbun" report, the Kumamoto Prefecture police revealed that between 2:00 and 2:30 a.m. on the 26th, Kotla stretched out his claws at a young woman working in the catering industry and stole a piece of underwear with a market price of 2,000 yen (approximately NT$403). He was suspected of indecency, theft and other crimes.

Investigators said that Kotla had been drinking before committing the crime. After his arrest, he argued that he had to obtain the woman's consent before having intimate contact. It is understood that after graduating from the University of Miami in the United States, Kotla went to Poland, Germany and other places to play in leagues. He began playing in the B League in 2009 and obtained Japanese nationality in 2020. His Japanese name is Kodera Hiroshima.

☆Excessive drinking is harmful to health. Drunk driving is prohibited☆

☆Respect body autonomy, be brave enough to stop sexual harassment and say no, please call 113 or 110☆