Smith’s 18 days in custody

Of the many questions thrown up by the arrest in Japan on New Year’s Eve of decorated Wallaby George Smith, the most intriguing was why it took almost three weeks for the news to emerge.

At least part of the answer lies in the impressive powers of Smith’s management to keep it quiet, given a three-year contract, worth upwards of $500,000 a season, was at stake in honourobsessed Japan.

But part of it also lies in the fact Australia’s 111-test veteran was held in police custody for an astonishing 18 days. While teammates Matt Giteau and Sean Mcmahon battled it out in the Japanese Top League final against fellow bigname Australians David Pocock, Digby Ioane and Berrick Barnes, Smith sat in detention 40 minutes’ drive away in Fuchu, on Tokyo’s western outskirts.

Arrested on suspicion of evading a $110 taxi fare, then assaulting the 58-year-old driver, Smith had been taken to a nearby police station in the early hours of the morning on December 31.

Last Wednesday, when news broke of his arrest, Smith was still in custody. A police officer told Australia’s ABC that Smith claimed he was drunk and did not remember the incident. Smith had not been charged, but that didn’t stop club officials issuing an unreserved apology to the taxi driver and ‘‘anyone affected’’.

The next day police released Smith and Suntory announced they had scrapped their victory parade. A day later, January 19, prosecutors chose not to proceed with an indictment, a Suntory spokesperson confirmed.

Smith, 37, declined to comment.