Jerry Collins being treated well in Japan gaol
Last updated 17:14 19/03/2013
CRAIG SIMCOX/Fairfax NZ
Former All Black Jerry Collins says police are treating him well while he is held in custody in Japan.
A representative from the New Zealand Embassy in Japan is visiting Collins in jail today, where he "remains in reasonable spirits'', said a Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade spokesperson.
Collins could be in custody for more than three weeks as Japanese police investigate the incident in which he was arrested for carrying a knife.
The former Hurricanes star was arrested at the weekend in the central Japanese Hamamatsu on charges of illegally carrying a kitchen knife in a department store, police said yesterday.
He told Japanese police he kept a kitchen knife for ''self-defence''.
Collins' agent, Wellington lawyer Tim Castle, has yet to speak to his client today but confirmed someone from the New Zealand Embassy would be visiting Collins in jail at 1pm New Zealand time.
''It's a breakthrough ... he can communicate with the outside world.''
Castle had been in touch with Collins' sister and father.
''I'm keeping them up to date with the play. They are philosophical.''
Castle said yesterday he was unsure whether Collins was arrested without a charge or arrested on a specific charge.
Castle said he was ready to go to Japan if needed.
Collins' sister Brenda, who plays rugby for the Wellington Pride, said the family had not heard from him since reports of his arrest broke and she did not want to comment further.
Family spokeswoman Litea Ah Hoi said Collins' family were largely having to rely on stories in the media for updates.
''It's any parent's worst nightmare, having your child locked up in a foreign country, it's quite heartbreaking.''
The family were waiting for more news after New Zealand Embassy staff visited Collins later today.
Ms Ah Hoi had known Collins since he was a young child and said the allegations he was carrying a knife seemed out of character.
''If he was going to get in any confrontation he would fight with his hands.''
According to press reports, Collins caught a security guard's attention when he went behind a sales counter at the store.
When approached, he pulled out the 17-centimetre blade from his pocket and placed it on the counter.
It is illegal to have weapons with blades longer than 15 centimetres without police permission in Japan.
Collins, who captained the All Blacks in a test match against Argentina in 2006, told police that he "kept the kitchen knife for self-defence", according to the reports.
Collins played for Yamaha Jubilo in Japan's Top League from 2011 and left the team last month when his two-year contract expired.
He played for New Zealand in 48 international games from 2001 to 2008.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/8...reated-well-in
