OSAKA (TR) – Hyogo Prefectural Police on Thursday raided the headquarters of an affiliate gang of the Yamaguchi-gumi on suspicion of fraud related to the purchase of a vehicle, reports Nippon News Network (Jan. 28).
At approximately 10:30 a.m., approximately 15 officers entered the offices of the Ohara-gumi, which is based in Osaka’s Ikuno Ward, in search of evidence connected to the purchase of a Mercedes-Benz sedan on August 20 of last year.
Police allege that Hironobu Ohara, the 69-year-old boss of the gang, did not reveal his status as a gang member during the purchase of the car from a dealership in Osaka. He was arrested on Wednesday.
Ohara uses the vehicle to commute to the Yamaguchi-gumi’s headquarters in Kobe’s Nada Ward.
Ohara, who has been charged with fraud, told police that his ex-wife requested the purchase. He denies one part of the allegations, telling police that he did not know that his gang affiliation had been concealed.
Following the defections of upper members from the Yamaguchi-gumi last year, Ohara is now the number-four boss in the gang.
