Prosecutors say they have released the father of Japanese television personality Rola due to a lack of evidence backing his arrest on suspicion of fraud.
"At the moment, there is no evidence that can lead to an indictment," the Tokyo District Public Prosecutor's Office said Friday in explaining why it is releasing the 54-year-old Bangladeshi national, who was identified by the police as Jurip Al-Asa.
The investigation will continue on a voluntary basis.
Jurip, who denied the charge, was suspected of swindling around ¥875,000 in benefits from Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, between December 2008 and January 2009 by falsely claiming that an acquaintance received medical treatment in Bangladesh and filing for reimbursement on his behalf.
"There is no facts like that, and I have nothing to do with it," Jurip was quoted as saying by the police.
Under the public health insurance system, people who receive medical treatment while traveling abroad are entitled to a certain amount of reimbursement.