TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Thursday announced the bust of a hostess club for overcharging students last month, reports TV Asahi (Dec. 4).
Officers took Toshihiro Kakamu, a 22-year-old employee at club Chou Chou, located in the Kabukicho entertainment area, and two other staff members into custody for demanding 250,000 yen from three university students who had spent only 10 minutes inside the premises on the evening of November 15.
The total bill included a fee for karaoke and 18 drinks, which were priced at 6,000 yen each and consumed by three hostesses. Prior to entering the club, the students had been lead to believe that they would be charged 2,500 yen for the first 60 minutes.
Kakamu, who has been charged with violating a metropolitan ordinance that prohibits bottakuri, or overcharging, has reportedly denied the allegations, saying that he does not recall the incident.
Police this week began patrols of Kabukicho to issue warnings about overcharging as the holiday season approaches.