"Belgian" dies after fleeing immigration questioning

OSAKA. Japan --A 55-year-old Belgian man died after he tried to flee during questioning at an immigration office at Kansai Airport on Sunday night, according to the police.

The man tried to flee from the Kansai Airport District Immigration Office at about 10:30 p.m. during an immigration inspection, they said.

But the man collapsed when police officers caught him about 10 meters from the office. He was taken to a hospital in Izumisano, Osaka Prefecture, but was confirmed dead about one hour later.

Police plan to carry out an autopsy, they said.

According to the police and the Osaka Regional Immigration Bureau, the man left Ghana on Friday and arrived alone at Kansai Airport via Dubai at about 6 p.m. Sunday.

The man refused to tell an immigration inspector why he wanted to enter Japan, so he was taken to the office for questioning.

The man's passport appeared to be genuine, and he did not appear to be carrying any suspicious belongings, the police said.