SHIGA (TR) – Shiga Prefectural Police have arrested a male Shinto priest from a shrine in Shizuoka Prefecture for illegally collecting cash under the pretext of investment, reports ABC News (June 26).
Between March and July of last year, Hidemoto Kojima, 64, a priest based in Iwata City, is suspected of illegally collecting a total of 22 million yen in cash from a man in his 40s and a woman in her 50s, both from Shiga Prefecture.
Kojima allegedly offered investment opportunities in foreign exchange and other products with the promise of high dividends and principal guarantees.
Police have not revealed whether Kojima has admitted to violating the Investment Law.
According to police, Kojima, who serves as the leader of the religious group Enshu Izumo, used his position as a Shinto priest to gain the trust of others by claiming to offer “principal guarantees” and “high dividends.”
The incident came to light when an investor contacted the police. The person said, “I never thought a priest would deceive people.”
Kojima is believed to have used his position as a priest to collect hundreds of millions of yen from at least 40 people. The investigation is ongoing.
