THAILAND (TR) – Authorities in Bangkok have arrested a 31-year-old Japanese man suspected of being a senior executive in a Cambodia-based scam syndicate that defrauded victims out of more than 1 billion yen, reports TV Asahi (June 8).
Takafumi Sugawara was detained by local investigators on Sunday at a check-in counter at an airport near Bangkok. Authorities say he was attempting to flee to Malaysia when police closed in and took him into custody on suspicion of violating immigration laws.
According to Thai police sources, Sugawara acted as a chief recruiter for the overseas crime ring carrying out tokushu sagi (specialized fraud).
In such a ring, members pose on the telephone as police officers or other persons in authority to swindle victims.
Sugawara was allegedly responsible for gathering kakeko (callers) to staff the headquarters in Cambodia, which systematically targeted victims back in Japan.
Investigators estimate the syndicate’s total criminal haul exceeds 1 billion yen.
Japanese authorities have already issued an arrest warrant for Sugawara on suspicion of fraud. Thai police are currently making arrangements to deport him to Japan, where he will be handed over to face charges.
