A file photo of a Don Quijote outlet in Saitama, Saitama Prefecture, set fire in December 2004

Three employees at the discount retailer's Urawa-Kagetsu outlet died in the blaze, which broke out Dec. 13 and gutted the building.

The sources said investigators are having difficulty securing sufficient evidence to prove that Noriko Watanabe murdered the three, and for the time being will focus on the arson allegations.

She was also served a new warrant on suspicion of attempted arson at Don Quijote's Omiya-Owada outlet later that same evening. No one was hurt in the second fire, which only burned some merchandise.

There were a total of six fires at general merchandise stores in Saitama on Dec. 13 and 15. Watanabe has been indicted in connection with four of them, with police quoting her as allegedly saying that setting fires helped her take her mind off her problems.

The Japan Times Weekly: April 30, 2005
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