KANAGAWA (TR) – The Yokohama District Court has sentenced a 45-year-old company executive to 10 years in prison for laundering more than 4.2 billion yen in illicit funds linked to online casinos, reports Jiji Press (May 18).
During the ruling handed down on Monday, presiding judge Yasuaki Takahashi also slapped Hideaki Yoshihara with an 8-million-yen fine and a staggering confiscation penalty of approximately 6.7 billion yen. Yoshihara was convicted of violating the Organized Crime Punishment Law by concealing criminal proceeds.
Two accomplices also received significant prison time for their roles in the massive laundering ring. Kazuki Yoshii, 54, was handed a six-year term, a 2-million-yen fine, and a penalty of about 5.39 million yen. Kazuyuki Takahashi, 48, was handed four years in prison, a 2-million-yen fine, and a penalty of roughly 4.5 million yen.
In handing down the sentences, Judge Takahashi condemned the illicit operation.
“This was a large-scale, organized and premeditated crime that must be dealt with severely,” the judge stated in court. Noting that the massive money laundering scheme was driven purely by greed, he added, “Because it was committed for their own personal gain, there is absolutely no room for leniency.”
Prosecutors had originally sought a 13-year prison term for Yoshihara, along with a 10-million-yen fine.
