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Yakuza boss among 7 nabbed for disrupting land sale

Makoto Suehiro
Makoto Suehiro

YAMAGUCHI (TR) – Police from Fukuoka and Yamaguchi prefectures have arrested the head of an organized crime group for disrupting the sale of a land parcel in Shimonoseki City, it was learned on Monday, reports the Asahi Shimbun (Jan. 12).

In July of last year, Makoto Suehiro, the 74-year-old head of the Goda-ikka, which is based in Shimonoseki, is alleged to have posting two 1.8-meter-wide signs on a parcel adjacent to the one for sale that falsely announced the development of a pig farm. Two Japanese flags were also installed on the property.

In April of last year, the land was acquired for 60 million yen by a real estate company in Fukuoka’s Chuo Ward. The company then contracted another real estate company, located in Kitakyushu’s Kokurakita Ward, to resell the property for more than 100 million yen but the transaction was cancelled.

Police also arrested another high-ranking member of the same gang, a construction company employee and four other suspects.

Suehiro had previously been arrested for fraudulently registering the plot of land in his name.

The Goda-ikka, which is the largest gang in Yamaguchi, has approximately 290 members and affiliate members, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun (Jan. 13).