Lack of Evidence Cited : D. A. Not Charging Son With Murder of Father

A 21-year-old Tarzana man arrested last week on suspicion of murdering his father, a wealthy Japanese businessman missing for seven months, was released Monday after the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office declined to charge him.

The young man, Toru Sakai, had been held without bail since Thursday, when police arrested him while searching family financial records at the home he shares with his mother, Sanae Sakai, 50, on Braewood Drive.

His father, Takashi (Glenn) Sakai, 54, who had been separated from Sanae Sakai but continued to live in the Los Angeles area, has not been seen since leaving his Beverly Hills office April 20. The parents had been involved in a legal battle over their finances and impending divorce.

Sanae Sakai also was detained by police Thursday, but was released later that day.

Since Toru Sakai’s arrest last week, police have refused to say what evidence indicates his father is dead or links him to his father’s disappearance.

“There are no problems with the case,” said Deputy Dist. Atty. Lonnie Felker. “We just want to do a little more investigation. We are not stepping back from anything. The fact that he was arrested and cut loose does not mean he is no longer a suspect.

“There is evidence to show he is not alive,” Felker said of Takashi Sakai. “I can’t say that absolutely, but it would seem from everything we know, that he is dead. There would only be three ways to die: an accident, murder and suicide. I guess we can’t rule out any of those.”

Police said that although there had been enough evidence in the case to arrest Toru Sakai, it was decided Monday that more evidence was needed to file a charge. “He was released at this time because of insufficient evidence,” Lt. Dan Cooke said.

California law requires that a suspect be released if not charged within 72 hours of his arrest.

Takashi Sakai, founder of Pacific Partners, a subsidiary of World Trade Bank, was an entrepreneur and consultant who helped Japanese companies invest in businesses in the United States. He was reported missing April 21 by a friend.

His car was found three days later at Los Angeles International Airport, but investigators found no record of his having taken a flight. Police said they then began gathering evidence of foul play.