TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police announced on November 25 the arrest of a member of the Sumiyoshi-kai organized crime group for participating in the assault of a rival gang member last year, reports the Sankei Shimbun (Nov. 26).
Officers took Shunsuke Ishimaru, 32, into custody on assault charges stemming from the attack of a 43-year-old member of the Yamaguchi-gumi by a 20-person group inside a hostess club in the Roppongi entertainment area just before 3 a.m. on December 14 of last year.
The Yamaguchi-gumi member received a serious wound to the head from being hit by a beer bottle. Three others were also injured.
The suspect is also reportedly a former member of the now defunct Kanto Rengo bosozoku motorcycle gang. The Sumiyoshi-kai is known to routinely enroll former members.
Investigators believe that non-active gang members participated in the brawl, and are working to determine if other former Kanto Rengo members were involved.
The Sankei says that just before the assault, Sumiyoshi-kai members experienced trouble at another hostess club in the area.
