Teen commits suicide after coach abuse
2013-01-08 14:27
Tokyo - A Japanese high school student killed himself
after suffering repeated abuse by his basketball coach, officials said on Tuesday.
The 17-year-old, who was found hanging in his room two
days before Christmas, left a suicide note saying he had taken his life after
being beaten by the unnamed coach, according to education authorities in the
western city of Osaka.
The 47-year-old coach admitted to beating the boy and
apologised to his family in the wake of his death, local media reports said,
adding that police were questioning the man.
Japan, with a population of about 128 million, has one of
the world's highest suicide rates, with more than 30 000 people taking their
lives annually.
Rising unemployment, family troubles and health problems
are cited as key factors behind many of the suicides.
The case of a 13-year-old boy who leapt to his death from
an apartment building in 2011 gained national prominence after a pupil survey
reportedly revealed he was subjected to a litany of abuse by bullies.
