A Japanese language school in Japan was decertified after one of its staff chained and padlocked a Vietnamese student for hours last year.

The Nishinihon International Education Institute in the southwestern city of Fukuoka has been removed from the nation’s immigration agency’s list of approved schools, the Immigration Services Agency announced on Wednesday.

The agency noted that a staff member physically restrained a Vietnamese student in his 20s in a teachers’ room for several hours in October last year.

The incident reportedly occurred when the student expressed his desire to transfer to another school. The teacher allegedly hooked a chain around his belt and the student’s before padlocking the chain.

When he was eventually allowed to return to his dormitory, the staff member also allegedly stood guard outside his room until the next morning to prevent him from escaping. 

The school has since admitted to the incident, and the staff member involved has already resigned. However, they described the behavior as “a prank without bad intentions.”

The school is currently in the process of appealing the ruling. 

Without certification, the language school will be unable to admit foreign students for five years. The agency said the school has been instructed to assist 630 foreign students currently enrolled in transferring to other schools.

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