TOKYO (SCMP): A woman in Japan who received more than 100 nuisance calls a day for a month, discovered her husband was making them, claiming it was because he “loved her so much”.
The 31-year-old woman from Hyogo prefecture told police that the upsetting calls were made in July and August.
She said the caller remained silent when she answered, according to the Japanese media outlet Kobe Shimbun.
She had complained to her husband about it, but his indifference and lack of concern left her feeling frustrated.
Then she noticed the calls would stop whenever he was sleeping, playing video games, or spending time with her.
One day she suggested the couple go shopping, and while they were out she closely monitored his actions. Throughout the day, he did not touch his phone, and the calls stopped.
Her suspicion prompted her to report her concerns to the police who checked the phone records.
Officers discovered that her husband had been the one behind the nuisance calls. An investigation showed the couple had no prior relationship conflicts and appeared to live harmoniously.
The husband concealed his phone number by making the calls private, allowing him to harass his wife with silent calls without revealing his identity.
According to some media reports, he was jealous and felt uncomfortable with her speaking to others on the phone.
One incident sparked his jealousy when he found out she was conversing with another man, despite not knowing the details of their discussion. In retaliation, he turned to making silent calls to punish his wife.
According to Japanese law, causing significant psychological distress through nuisance phone calls is illegal. Violators may face up to one year in prison or a fine of up to 1 million yen (US$7,000), and a prohibition order will be issued.
On Sept 4, the police arrested the husband. His punishment has not yet been disclosed.
The incident has sparked widespread discussion across the country.
“The husband’s control over his wife is too much. This kind of love is suffocating,” one online observer wrote.
“Communication is the best way for a couple to resolve issues, not harassment or violence,” another said.
There have been reports in China of husbands harassing and even stalking their wives.
A man from Hubei province in central China utilised a drone to uncover his wife’s affair with her boss. He stated that the evidence collected would be used to initiate divorce proceedings, as reported by NetEase News. - South China Morning Post
