Two men were arrested Tuesday a day after the body of a woman in her 50s, who had been missing since mid-June, was found buried in a Shiga Prefecture forest, the police said.

Ichiya Nishida, a 20-year-old construction worker, and an 18-year-old part-time worker were charged with abandoning the body of Miyuki Noda, a 53-year-old part-time worker from Nagoya, police said. The 18-year-old's name has been withheld because he is a minor under the law.

Police allege that the suspects conspired to bury Noda's body around June 20 in the town of Taga.

Investigators say the suspects have admitted to the charges and suggested their involvement in the murder. They case was sent to prosecutors on Tuesday.

Nishida is believed to have become acquainted with Noda through a seminar about virtual currencies.

Nishida lives in Ogaki, Gifu Prefecture, and the younger man is from the town of Aisho, Shiga Prefecture. The police said Nishida is also believed to hail from Shiga Prefecture.

Noda went missing on the evening of June 18 after attending a seminar in Kasugai, Aichi Prefecture. It was confirmed that she got into Nishida's car on the same day outside JR Ogaki Station, about 35 km northwest of Kasugai, according to the police.

Noda's smartphone and bag were found at locations related to Nishida, and the police then questioned about 10 people, including the two suspects, on a voluntary basis. Based on Nishida's accounts, they later found Noda's body.