TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested three Chinese nationals accused of orchestrating a fake purse-snatching in the upscale Ginza district earlier this year to make off with nearly 22 million yen in cash from the sale of a luxury Rolex watch, reports TBS News (June 2).
The suspects, who include 31-year-old Wang Ping of Kawaguchi City, Saitama Prefecture, and 38-year-old Liu Huan of Kashiwa City, Chiba Prefecture, and Mo Junryan, 23, who also lives in Kashiwa, face charges of robbery resulting in bodily injury over the incident, which took place at around 6:00 p.m. on March 31.
Upon questioning, Wang has largely admitted to the allegations. However, Liu and Mo have denied the charges, police said.
According to police, the victim, 20, wanted to sell a Rolex watch but wished to keep his personal information hidden from the dealership. To bypass the store’s requirements, he connected with Liu on social media and hired him to conduct the transaction as a proxy.
The heist unfolded shortly after Liu entered a Ginza watch shop on the victim’s behalf. As Liu exited the store carrying a paper bag containing 21.85 million yen in cash, Wang allegedly swooped in and snatched the bag in a staged robbery.
The victim, who was waiting nearby, immediately tried to recover his cash and grabbed Wang by the shoulder. During the struggle, Wang allegedly thrust a stun gun into the victim’s stomach, inflicting injuries before fleeing.
The victim suffered injuries that required two weeks to heal.
