TOKYO (TR) – Law enforcement on Monday arrested the mastermind behind a Cambodian fraud ring upon his transfer from Thailand, where he had been in hiding, reports TBS News (June 17).
Police suspect Yusuke Sasaki, a 38-year-old self-styled company executive of unknown residence of violating the Organized Crime Punishment Law for his role in orchestrating a massive telephone fraud operation based in Cambodia.
In February of last year, Sasaki allegedly directed accomplices to impersonate police officers over the phone, successfully swindling a 37-year-old woman in Ibaraki Prefecture out of more than 31 million yen in cash.
According to investigators, Sasaki acted as the primary mastermind of the overseas fraud base, which carried out tokushu sagi (specialized fraud). In such a scam, persons on the telephone pose as persons of authority to swindle victims out of cash.
Sasaki provided operational funding and drew up the scam schemes. Among the ring’s underlings, he was known simply as “Teacher A.”
Authorities estimate the group’s total haul to be in the billions of yen, with Sasaki allegedly pocketing 30 to 40 percent of the defrauded cash as his personal cut.
During questioning, Sasaki refused to cooperate with the ongoing investigation, telling police, “I will remain silent.”
