TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 31-year-old man for his alleged role in a brazen street robbery in Katsushika Ward that netted 2 kilograms of gold bullion earlier this year, reports Fuji News Network (25).
Akira Nakao was arrested on suspicion of robbery resulting in injury. He is accused of conspiring in an April attack on a street in the Higashi-Shinkoiwa area, where four male victims were sprayed with pepper spray and severely assaulted.
The attackers made off with the gold, valued at approximately 53 million yen.
According to investigators, four other men who physically carried out the attack have already been arrested and indicted. Police believe Nakao acted as the crew’s “collector,” meeting the perpetrators in neighboring Chiba Prefecture shortly after the heist to receive the stolen bullion.
Authorities have not yet determined where Nakao transported the gold after taking possession of it.
During questioning, Nakao denied the allegations, reportedly telling investigators, “I have no recollection of this.”
Police are continuing their investigation, operating on the belief that the robbery was orchestrated by a tokuryu ring, whose members communicate anonymously via social media.
