A priest was arrested for violating child prostitution laws after allegedly hiring an underage prostitute for sexual services, police in Japan said.

 Kanagawa police said that they have arrested 27-year-old Tatsuya Saito, after being accused of hiring a 16-year-old girl for $175.

Saito was charged with violation of child proposition laws and pornography laws. According to the police investigation, Saito met the girl on an app that connects prostitutes with nearby clients.

Saito paid the 16-year-old girl $175 to have sex with him for two hours.

While being questioned by police, Saito admitted to hiring the prostitute, but claimed that he did not know that she was underage.

Saito was a priest at the Hiratsuka Hachimangu Shrine.