TOKYO (TR) – The Tokyo District Court on Wednesday handed a suspended prison sentence to a social media influencer Reika Kuroki for evading more than 150 million yen in taxes, reports Nippon News Network (July 15).
Kuroki, 38, who operates online under the name Reika Miyazaki, was sentenced on Friday to two years and six months in prison, suspended for four years.
Kuroki heads Solarie, an affiliate advertising company that generates revenue by promoting beauty products and other goods on social media. According to the court, she concealed her true income by logging fictitious outsourcing expenses, ultimately evading approximately 157 million yen in corporate and other taxes.
During the trial, Kuroki admitted to the charges but attempted to downplay her personal greed.
“Sales increased far more than I had anticipated,” Kuroki told the court. “I didn’t do it for personal use, but engaged in tax evasion to secure business funds for the company. The money was only used for employee compensation and other legitimate expenses.”
However, prosecutors painted a different picture, demanding a 30-month prison term. They argued that Kuroki played the leading role in the financial scheme and personally enjoyed the illicit profits, condemning the crime as a “selfish and greedy act driven by a desire to reduce her tax burden.”
