On Thursday, officers from the Shinjuku Police Station took Tomohiro Arima, the 41-year-old manager of Club Leo, located in the Kabukicho entertainment area, and two other employees into custody for allegedly demanding 630,000 yen from a male customer at the club in which he only drank water between 1 a.m. and 8 a.m.
According to police, the victim was charged for 72 beverages consumed by hostesses, which are priced at 6,000 yen each.
In forcibly escorting the victim to a convenience store ATM machine, the suspects threatened to inflict violence if payment was not made. At the machine, the victim pressed an emergency button that alerted police.
All three suspects, who have been charged with violating a metropolitan ordinance that prohibits overcharging, have reportedly denied the allegations, saying that the total bill was justified.
Police have received more than 10 complaints about overcharging from customers at Club Leo since it opened in August, according to the Yomiuri Shimbun (Oct. 11).
