Officers took Takashi Nao, the 55-year-old leader of the Shokonjuku group, into custody for extorting a total 22 million yen in cash payments from the 46-year-old majority owner of the company, which is listed on the second section of the Tokyo Stock Exchange.
On three occasions in February and March of 2011, Nao demanded the money from the victim at the Hotel New Otani and other locations. The suspect utilized the name of the top boss of the Sumiyoshi-kai organized crime group in threatening the employee. “They will kill,” Nao reportedly said, according to TV Asahi (Nov. 11).
Nao has reportedly admitted to the allegations.
In 2009, Nao originally demanded payment of 100 million yen at a general shareholders’ meeting of Crea Holdings under the false pretext of having a right to be present. A signed agreement that included a payment of that sum was exchanged.
According to TBS News (Nov. 11), an arrest warrant for Nao was issued in February.
Investigators are now attempting to determine if Nao had been involved in any other extortion cases.
Nao participated in the founding of Shokonjuku in 1978. The group, which uses Tokyo as a base of operations, has 1,500 members.
