Police on Tuesday turned over to prosecutors their case against a former university professor in Tokyo who in December allegedly stabbed a student from another university with a sword to find out if the victim was serious about studying Middle East affairs.
Police alleged that Yoshiaki Sasaki, an ex-Takushoku University professor and a Middle East expert, stabbed the 24-year-old Keio University student in the abdomen on the evening of Dec. 19.
The student was stabbed after asking Sasaki, "What does the Middle East situation mean to you, professor?" in a study room at the university in Bunkyo Ward.
Sasaki, 54, the victim and two others were drinking at the time, police said. Sasaki told investigators he showed a sword to the student but did not remember stabbing him.
The school fired Sasaki soon afterward. Author of many books on the Middle East, he often appeared on TV after the Sept. 11 attacks.