A 26-year-old man has been arrested in Wakayama for allegedly beating his 2-year-old son to death, police said.

According to police, Kazuki Hara was arrested after his son Seri died of a subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a violent attack in July.

Fuji TV quoted a child welfare spokesperson as saying that the boy was taken into care in 2011 after Hara allegedly stomped on him and broke several of his bones. However, the District Public Prosecutor's Office found that Hara's guilt could not be proven and ordered a suspension of indictment.

While Seri was in care, welfare officials said he met with his father 25 times and stayed at his home on 35 separate occasions. It was deemed safe for Seri to return to his father in June of this year. He died a month and a half later, police said.

Police said Hara has so far denied intent to injure his son.

© Japan Today