AICHI (TR) – The alleged mastermind behind a telephone scam ring operating out of Cambodia paid local authorities approximately 10 million yen a month in bribes to avoid detection, investigative sources have revealed, reports Tokai TV (July 29).
Yusuke Sasaki, a 38-year-old self-proclaimed company executive, was indicted on fraud charges by the Nagoya District Public Prosecutors Office on Tuesday. He is believed to be the owner and manager of the syndicate’s base in Poipet, Cambodia.
Sasaki was previously arrested for allegedly defrauding a woman in Ibaraki Prefecture out of more than 30 million yen in cash in February of last year. Operating from the overseas hideout, members of the ring made deceptive phone calls to targets in Japan, posing as police officers and other officials.
According to investigators, Sasaki funneled roughly 10 million yen every month from the group’s illicit earnings directly to local Cambodian authorities. The massive payoffs were reportedly made specifically to evade police crackdowns and allow the criminal enterprise to operate smoothly.
Prosecutors are continuing to investigate the syndicate to uncover the full scope of their operations and financial network.
