OSAKA (TR) – A 26-year-old man this week pleaded guilty during his first court appearance to defrauding a male victim of approximately 9.6 million yen by luring him to a fake bar via a dating app, reports Mainichi Broadcasting System (Aug. 7).
According to the indictment, Takumi Ogura, an unemployed resident of Tokyo’s Shibuya Ward, conspired with accomplices to execute the extortion plot in November of last year. The group allegedly rented a room in Osaka’s Chuo Ward and disguised it as a legitimate nightlife establishment.
The perpetrators used a matching app to lure the unsuspecting victim to the venue. Upon arrival, the man was enticed with a 5,000-yen “all-you-can-drink” special. However, the group intentionally served him alcohol that was not included in the promotional plan before slapping him with an exorbitant bill totaling roughly 9.6 million yen.
During his initial trial on Thurday, Ogura fully admitted to the charges.
In their opening statement, prosecutors detailed the defendant’s history of running similar bottakuri (rip-off) schemes.
“He had been operating rip-off bars in Tokyo for several years,” the prosecution stated. “However, after his associates were arrested, he relocated his activities to the Minami entertainment district in Osaka starting last year to continue repeating the offenses.”
