Hironobu Kimura, 39, a resident of Setagaya Ward, has denied the allegations. “I was lending money on a personal basis only,” the suspect is quoted by police. Also taken into custody was 31-year-old Takanori Oyama, an industrial painter from Kanagawa Prefecture.
According to police, between October 2008 and May of last year, the suspects extended loans to three people in Fukushima Prefecture. One 42-year-old male took out loans for 5.4 million yen at interest rates that were from six to 64 times larger than allowed by law.
Nippon News Network reports that Kimura utilized threats and made unannounced visits to customers who were late with repayments. “You will get a taste of the yakuza,” the suspect is quoted.
Police are investigating whether the scheme was a source of funds for the Inagawa-kai.
