SAPPORO (TR) – Officers from the Chuo Police Station on Saturday busted a hostess club for extorting students who had been presented an exorbitant bill last year, reports the Hokkaido Shimbun (Jan. 11).
Officers took Makoto Matsuoka, a 40-year-old employee at club Chupa Chups, located in the Susukino entertainment area, and staff member Shuji Suzuki, 45, into custody for threatening two university students over a bill of 235,000 yen on the morning of November 29.
The suspects threatened to inform the families and schools of the victims about their visit. On that day, the students paid 97,000 yen. They were also forced to sign a promissory note for the remaining amount.
The suspects, who have been charged with extortion, have reportedly denied the allegations, saying that they did not make threats.
According to police, there have been roughly 30 complaints of bottakuri, or overcharging, at Chupa Chups since it opened in July of last year.
