TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested the manager of a club in Taito Ward and four employees for allegedly confining, assaulting, and extorting a male customer after springing a surprise tequila trap on him, reports TV Asahi (July 9).
Shuhei Hirose, 40, and club employee Naoya Nichogi were among the five men taken into custody.
According to police, the suspects lured the victim, a man in his 40s, into their kyabakura (hostess club) by promising a cheap flat rate of 6,000 yen for one hour on a day in April. The moment the man took his seat, staff brought out approximately 10 shots of tequila.
“I didn’t order this much, but I figured it was complimentary service,” the victim later explained.
Physically assaulted
About three hours later, the trap was sprung. The man was handed an exorbitant bill more than 10 times the initially quoted price. When the club’s credit card reader failed to process his payment, staff escorted the man to a nearby convenience store ATM. However, he was unable to withdraw cash due to after-hours system restrictions.
“So you can’t pay. We’re going back to the club,” a male staff member told him.
Once back inside the establishment, the man was locked in and physically assaulted, taking slaps to the face. The extortion quickly escalated as staff demanded a staggering 1.2 million yen, labeling it an “overtime fee.”
“I’ll seriously kill you”
During the confinement, Hirose reportedly threatened the victim, telling him, “I’ll seriously kill you.”
The suspects then forced the terrified man to call his family and colleagues, with the club staff taking the phone to speak to them directly. The victim was finally released after a coworker agreed to pay 200,000 yen. The man went straight to a police station to report the ordeal.
According to police, the club has generated 21 police consultations regarding billing troubles in just the six months since its opening. Investigators are continuing to probe the establishment, believing the suspects are involved in a string of similar rip-off schemes.
