OSAKA -- Osaka police have arrested a 19-year-old Chinese boy and obtained an arrest warrant for another Chinese on suspicion of robbery and murder in connection with the death of a 35-year-old prostitute inside a hotel here in December.

Police identified the fugitive suspect as Po Zhe, 21, a resident of Tokyo. The identity of the 19-year-old is being withheld because he is a minor. The two came to Japan in 2000 and were once students at Beppu University in Oita Prefecture.

The woman's body was found inside a hotel room in Kita Ward on Dec. 26. She had been bound with adhesive tape and died of multiple stab wounds.

Police investigators linked the two suspects to her murder through telephone calls made to the brothel where the victim worked from the 19-year-old's cell phone.

Police said surveillance cameras revealed Po Zhe trying to withdraw money from automated teller machines using two bank cards that belonged to the woman. No money was withdrawn because the passwords used did not match.

The two were also seen buying adhesive tape near the Osaka hotel where the murder took place, police officials said.

According to police, the 19-year-old suspect has admitted to taking part in the murder and said he stabbed the woman several times because she tried to resist.

The boy, a native of Fujian Province, dropped out of Beppu University in October after repeatedly failing to attend class. Po Zhe, a native of Liaoning Province, was kicked out of the college in December.

Police are also investigating possible links between the suspects and the Jan. 18 stabbing of an elderly couple in Yamaga, Oita Prefecture. The slain husband apparently took care of Chinese exchange students at Beppu University.

The two suspects arrived in Osaka from Oita a few days before the hotel murder, police officials said.

The suspect from Fujian checked into the hotel by himself on the day of the murder, while his partner allegedly entered the hotel through a backdoor, police said. Po left the hotel shortly after the woman showed up, and the boy left about two hours later.

The movements of the two suspects suggest that Po left the hotel to withdraw money with the bank cards stolen from the woman while his partner remained in the room to watch over her.