TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a pair of male Liberian nationals over the alleged swindle of a precious metals dealer in Chuo Ward last year.
On November 16, a male secondhand dealer in his 40s visited a hotel in Chuo Ward with 34 million yen in cash in anticipation of carrying out a transaction for “gold,” reports NHK (Sep. 9).
At around 2:00 p.m., Joseph Kamera Sandyman, 43, and Lee F. James, 46, arrived with a total of 5 kilograms of copper pellets, claiming they were “gold grains.”
After receiving the cash brought by the secondhand dealer and wrapping it in newspaper, one of the suspects spilled the copper pellets on the floor. While they were all picking up the pellets, the suspects allegedly swapped the real cash for counterfeit bills that were wrapped in newspaper that they had prepared beforehand.
Upon his arrest on suspicion of theft, James denied the charges, “I have no idea what this is all about,” he said. Sandyman also denies the allegations, police said.
“So that no one can touch them”
Just before the incident, the suspects took the real bills and placed them in newspaper. At the time, James said, “So that no one can touch them.” It was at this point, that the swap was made, police said.
The counterfeit notes contained paper, some of which resembled banknotes and had the number “1 million yen” written on them. It is believed that Sandyman prepared the paper.
The dealer later decided to trade the “gold,” but the pellets turned out to be copper, not gold. The incident came to light when he realized that the 34 million yen in cash had also been switched with counterfeit bills.
Several similar incidents whereby foreigners have swindled other victims have been confirmed, and the total amount of damage is thought to exceed 100 million yen. Police are now investigating whether there is a connection between the cases.
