Relative of Japanese man says he was "bound and placed face-down on the floor"

To see international photos, click here

SANTIAGO.- 42 year-old Japanese businessman Masataka Wada was bound and laid face down in his master bedroom for an hour and a half yesterday afternoon during a robbery that took place at his home, located on La Gloria street in Las Condes.

The incident was reported by a relative who asked to remain anonymous and added that the act was perpetrated by three individuals, who were no older than 14.

The relative stated that the assailants entered through the back part of the residence after jumping over a wall and breaking through iron safety bars in order to make their way into the kitchen.

"They asked him about the safe and he told them he didn't know anything about it", asserted the relative.

The suspects, who arrived unarmed and unmasked, managed to take a Suzuki Aero automobile, a laptop computer and a plasma television, among other items.

Early this morning, the vehicle was located in the municipality of Peñalolén with damages to the side panels caused by an accident before the thieves abandoned the vehicle, taking the stolen items with them.

The case is being investigated by the Bureau of Police Investigations and the East Public Attorney's Office.