TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police on Wednesday announced the arrest of a 68-year-old male for allowing businesses in a red-light district of Shinjuku Ward to use a credit card-skimming machine, reports TBS News (July 22).
Officers took Yoshiya Suzuki into custody for assisting in the theft of 210,000 yen from a customer at a bar in Kabukicho who had been drugged and had his credit card stolen in May of last year.
According to TV Asahi (July 22), Suzuki, who is known in Kabukicho as the “card man,” charged a 15-percent commission fee for usage of the machine. Businesses utilizing his services usually engage in bottakuri, or overcharging of customers.
Suzuki, who has been charged with assisting in theft, has reportedly admitted to the allegations. “I thought I’d gradually withdraw from lending (the machine) at a favorable opportunity,” the suspect is quoted by police.
Suzuki became a target of the police after his participation in a similar case emerged last month.