Sawajiri Erika admits to using MDMA and other drugs, CM damages estimated to be around 500 million yen

Media such as Asahi Shimbun are reporting that Sawajiri Erika (33) who was arrested for possession of the synthetic drug MDMA, told the Metropolitan Police Dept., “I used it before.  I used other illegal drugs”.  It was learned through interviews with investigators.

UPDATE: Sawajiri has since told her lawyer that the MDMA capsules with powder that were seized was from a man that she was dating.  She didn’t use it.

Investigators are now analyzing mobile phone data and the location and usage will be examined in detail.

According to investigators, the Metropolitan Police Department started a criminal investigation in early October after obtaining information that Sawajiri was using illegal drugs in clubs that she came to enjoy music and danced.

After she attended a club event in Shibuya on the night of the 15th and when she returned home the following morning, authorities decided to search her home.

In addition, because many ads featuring Sawajiri have been pulled, Sankei Sports is reporting that an official in the advertising industry estimates that damages to her company clients is around 250 million yen.

As for her role in NHK’s Taiga drama “Kirin no Kuru”, which is to air on January 5th, shooting started back in June and a ten episodes have been recorded.  Reports are that NHK may be reshooting various scenes with another actress but damage is estimated at 100 million yen.

And the damages for the DVD release of the film “Ningen Shikkaku: Dazai Osamu to 3-nin no Onna-tachi” also factors in. With everything combined, it may be up to 500 million yen in damages.

Denki Groove frontman, actor and musician Pierre Taki (Taki Masanori, 51) was arrested back in March for suspected cocaine use by the Ministry of Health, Labor, Welfare Bureau in the Kanto district and many of his scenes in film, television and video games had to be replaced.

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