TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 20-year-old man and two youths on suspicion of robbing and confining a 19-year-old at knifepoint following a dispute between rival groups, reports Nippon News Network (June 11).
Hideto Arai, 20, and his two underage accomplices are accused of confronting the victim on a street in Higashikurume City last year. According to police, the trio thrust a bladed weapon at the teenager, stripping him of a necklace valued at approximately 490,000 yen.
Following the robbery, the suspects allegedly forced the victim into a vehicle, holding him captive while demanding, “Pay us 3 million yen.”
During questioning, Arai and one of the youths denied the allegations. The second youth has opted to remain silent, police said.
Investigators revealed that the incident stemmed from an ongoing dispute between rival groups associated with the suspects and the victim.
In a bid to prevent the crime from being reported, Arai’s crew also tracked down three of the victim’s friends, threatening them by saying, “If you guys go to the police, we’ll come after you and your families.”
