KANAGAWA (TR) – Kanagawa Prefectural Police have arrested and sent to prosecutors a 31-year-old unemployed man for allegedly extorting approximately 10 million yen from a friend over an eight-year period by using the threat of a dangerous, non-existent associate, reports Fuji News Network (July 8).
Ryota Aoki is accused of intimidating the victim, a man in his 30s, into handing over a steady stream of cash to avoid the wrath of a fabricated older associate, or senpai.
According to police, Aoki contacted the victim in late March, ordering him to hand over cash. “The amount is 100,000 yen. The date is the 29th around 1:00 p.m. The location is a convenience store or supermarket,” he instructed.
Complying with the demand, the victim drove to a supermarket parking lot in Isehara City on March 29 and handed Aoki 80,000 yen inside a car. In April, Aoki collected the remaining 20,000 yen at a different parking lot.
“For years”
The long-running shakedown finally came to light when the victim’s father went to the police, reporting, “My son has been extorted for years.”
Investigators revealed the extortion began roughly eight years ago when Aoki began terrifying his friend with tales of a brutal associate who was eager to meet him.
“My sempai wants to see you,” Aoki reportedly told the victim. “If you meet him with that nervous attitude of yours, you’ll get beaten up. He’s quick to use his fists. He says if you don’t want to meet him, pay up.”
Investigative sources confirmed that the violent senior was an absolute fiction. However, the continuous phantom threat allowed Aoki to bleed the victim of roughly 10 million yen over the eight-year span.
Unremarkable
Despite his alleged crimes, neighbors described Aoki as entirely unremarkable. He lived in a modest 50-square-meter apartment, with rent estimated at 50,000 yen a month.
“He seemed like just an ordinary guy, not wealthy but not giving off a bad vibe,” one neighbor said. “He previously mentioned he worked from home, and we would exchange basic greetings.” Other residents added that he did not appear to be associating with any shady characters.
Upon his arrest, Aoki admitted to the allegations. “I had no income and was struggling to make a living,” he told investigators.
Police are continuing to investigate the full details of the eight-year extortion scheme.
