On Tuesday, Yukio Handa, a 63-year-old boss within the Sumiyoshi-kai, pleaded guilty to possession of a firearm and five rounds of live ammunition at the opening of his trial.
The matter came to light in April after a vehicle driven by another Sumiyoshi-kai member under the influence of stimulant drugs and being pursued by a patrol car crashed into a third vehicle. One passenger in the third vehicle suffered serious injuries.
On June 24, police searched a gang office and Handa’s residence in investigating the accident and discovered the firearm and ammunition, according to the Shimotsuke Shimbun (Aug. 26). In addition the gang boss, several other Sumiyoshi-kai members have also been arrested.
Handa is the top boss of the Sumiyoshi-kai’s Handa-gumi.
