TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have re-arrested three bar hosts employed in the Kabukicho entertainment area who are suspected in a series of fake accidents involving taxi drivers, reports TV Asahi (Mar. 7).
In September of last year, Yusuke Aoki and Susumu Miyazawa, both of whom are 28 years old, are alleged to have collected 16,000 yen in compensation after staging a fake accident involving a taxi traveling down a road in Shinjuku Ward.
Under questioning, both suspects, who have been charged with extortion, admit to the charges. One other host, who was not named, has also been arrested in the case.
Police initially arrested the suspects in February for a separate case that took place in October. In that incident, one of the suspects hailed a taxi and directed the driver down the road. Aoki, who was pulling a suitcase, suddenly emerged in the path of the vehicle. The car then struck the luggage. The group demanded 100,000 yen from the driver.
Since March of last year, the suspects are believed to have collected several million yen from more than 100 taxi drivers who had fallen victim to similar scams.
