The director of a plastic surgery clinic was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of performing indecent acts on a female patient during an operation -- and filming it.

According to Tokyo police, Suguru Miyamoto, director of the Rainbow Clinic in Taito Ward, put a 23-year-old woman under general anesthesia during an operation April 10, 2001. He then allegedly engaged in obscene acts while she was not fully conscious.

Miyamoto, 44, has denied the allegations, saying his actions constituted "appropriate medical treatment."

However, police determined that the doctor's acts were not related to the operation, as the surgery in question only required a local anesthetic, and because the woman was fully undressed. The procedure was also taped.

Investigators said Miyamoto approached police in November, seeking advice because he was being blackmailed in connection with videos he had taken. Police checked the tapes in his possession and discovered the footage of the operation on the woman, they said.

According to sources close to the case, Miyamoto allegedly did not allow assistants to work with him when he operated on women, and police were searching relevant locations for evidence of similar cases.

Miyamoto also operates clinics in Osaka, Nagoya and Sendai, police said.