TOKYO (TR) – As a part of an ongoing sweep, Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Tuesday announced the bust of six hostess clubs in Shinjuku Ward for overcharging, reports TBS News (June 16).
Police took Kento Namiki, the 21-year-old manager of club Hasta La Vista, located in the Kabukicho entertainment area, into custody for demanding 2.66 million yen from nine male customers in December.
The total bill included 172 drinks, many of which were consumed by hostesses. The customers had arrived at the club after being lured by a street tout who promised a price of 4,000 yen for 80 minutes.
Namiki, who has been charged with violating a metropolitan ordinance that prohibits bottakuri, or inflating bills, denies the charge. Between June 13 and 14, police charged ten other suspects with the same crime.
Prior to this latest crackdown, police had busted 13 establishments in Kabukicho for overcharging since October. Police believe there are still approximately 20 such bars still operating in the area.
This year, 1,350 complaints of bottakuri have been lodged by customers with police, an increase by factor of 10 compared with the year before.
