A stressed nurse, who knowingly broke an older patient's ribs at her hospital in the western Japanese town of Sayo, has been arrested by the Japanese police. Saori Hamuro who is 26, is a prime suspect in five similar cases.

On being asked about the reasons, she said that she was upset over her strained relations with colleagues that made her commit the crime.

She broke the ribs of an 85-year-old patient, cracking 12 of her ribs in the year 2009. She has behaved similarly with five other patients who fell between the age group of 75 and 99. All of them remained bedridden for a long period. They were not in a position to express them. Though, all of them have died whether there was any connection between broken ribs and causes of death remains uncertain.

Hamuro herself brought the injuries into notice in three cases. When the work shifts were examined, she emerged as a suspect in the crime.

Hamuro was hired in September 2006. She took a short break from her job and returned in April 2008. After that she took maternity leave in September 2009.

Hospital official Toshio Nishiura said, "She had a serious and quiet personality, and there were no complaints about her from the patients. We want to apologize for the trouble caused for those involved".