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The home of Kazuaki Kinoshita and the adjoining church-like building where the drowning is believed to have occurred are seen in this photo taken Sept. 27 in Nagasu, Kumamoto Prefecture. (Mainichi)

NAGASU, Kumamoto -- A girl who drowned after being tied to a chair and doused in water in an "exorcism" plot was subjected to the same treatment multiple times in the past, according to prefectural police.

Tomomi Maishigi, 13, was confirmed dead at a hospital in the predawn hours of Aug. 28. Kazuaki Kinoshita, a 56-year-old priest, and Tomomi's father Atsushi Maishigi, 50, were arrested by police on suspicion of causing her death by pouring water on her as she was tied to a chair, drowning her. Kumamoto prefectural police say that the girl was similarly bound to a chair and doused with water multiple times in the past.

Police see it as very likely that Kinoshita led the attack, while Maishigi followed his guidance.

According to police, the fatal dousing occurred on the night of Aug. 27 in a church-like building of Kinoshita's religion -- Nakayamashingoshoshu, a type of Buddhism. Police say that water was poured from a height of around 2.5 meters onto Tomomi's face for five to 10 minutes in an activity called "takigyo" (waterfall rite).

Both suspects deny the allegations of "violence leading to death," saying, "it was an activity done to exorcise, and was not violence."

Atsushi and his wife reportedly sought the advice of Kinoshita in March of this year because Tomomi had an ailment that would not heal. Kinoshita said that the water rite could exorcise her and cure her, and subjected Tomomi to it around 100 times since then.

Police say a belt and adhesive tape were used to bind a struggling Tomomi to the chair, and Atsushi held her head and forced her to face upwards so it would be hit by the water, while Kinoshita recited sutras next to them.

Reportedly, Kinoshita normally insisted that believers stand during the water rite, with the water hitting their back or elsewhere.

A spokesperson for the Nakayamashingoshoshu's main temple in Kiyama, Saga Prefecture, said, "The water rite is done to bring one's wishes to reality, but of course you cannot exorcise with it. We also do not instruct to bind the arms and legs when doing the ritual."