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Tokyo cops: Yakuza member in ¥150 million attempted extortion

Yuta Itoi
Yuta Itoi

TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested an organized crime member over the attempted extortion of a male restaurant employee in Hachioji City, reports Fuji News Network (Mar. 28).

On March 16, Yuta Itoi, a 27-year-old member of the Sumiyoshi-kai, allegedly threatened the man, aged in his 20s, and demanded payment of 150 million yen inside a restaurant.

Itoi denies the charge. “I asked for meals only, not money,” the suspect is quoted by police.

According to TV Asahi (Mar. 28), Itoi told the victim that he needed help with shinogi, or funding activities. He added that the 150-million-yen payment would be needed as compensation for breaking off relations with a female acquaintance, with whom he had already paid 15 million yen as a settlement.

The suspect also mentioned the possibility of abducting the victim if the payment was not made.

The victim consulted with police sometime after leaving the restaurant.