Japanese tourist (31) found dead on an apparent alcohol overdose

A Japanese drug addict died following an overdose of alcohol which he opted for to fight a painful withdrawal syndrome, after his drug ration had dried up during his stay in the country, police and medical officials said yesterday.

They said the body of Tommo Taka, 31, was found inside a wooded area in Naramwala in the Kurunegala District, by villagers who had gone out to fetch firewood, two days after he went missing.

Kuliyapitiya Superintendent of Police (SP), K.D.A. Serasinghe told the Sunday Times, the victim, along with two other Japanese nationals, had arrived in Naramwala on Wednesday, in a hired car driven by a local.

According to a complaint made to the Naramwala Police by the driver, the trio had arrived earlier in the day, in Naram- wala, after a tour of Dambulla and Sigiriya, The driver further said in his statement that the trio had behaved in an abnormal and dangerous manner during their tour.

The victim had left the vehicle alone on reaching a location in Kuliyapitiya, and failed to return.

Judicial Medical Officer (JMO), Kurunegala Division- Dr Ajith Jayasena who held the postmortem, returned an open verdict, while specimens taken from the victim were later sent to the Government Analyst in Colombo.

“It is my belief that the man had died from an overdose of alcohol that had turned toxic after it mixed with the narcotics in his system. It appears that the victim was undergoing a painful withdrawal syndrome since his drug ration dried up, and opted for alcohol as a substitute,” Dr Jayasena told the Sunday Times.

He said there was no evidence to indicate any violence that led to the man’s death. “There were a few external abrasions caused due to a fall”.

“An open verdict was given owing to the nature of the death that needed more investigations, and it is also the usual procedure,” Dr Jayasena added.

A Japanese Embassy spokesman in Colombo said that arrangements were under way to send the body to the victim’s relatives in Japan at the very earliest.