TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a gang boss and four others for allegedly kidnapping an acquaintance and sending him to Malaysia to work in a telecom fraud ring, reports TBS News (July 23).
Shinji Yasuda, a 48-year-old member of an affiliate gang of the Sumiyoshi-kai, and his four accomplices are accused of kidnapping for the purpose of transferring a person abroad.
According to police, the suspects abducted a 49-year-old unemployed male acquaintance in May of this year to force him to work for a tokushu sagi (specialized fraud) ring.
In such a ring, members pose on the telephone as police officers or other persons in authority to swindle victims. In this case, the victim served as a kakeko (caller).
Prior to the abduction, Yasuda and his crew allegedly threatened the victim, telling him, “I need 50 million yen,” and ordering him to “go overseas and work as a scam caller. Show us you’re a man.”
They further pressured him by stating, “Your cut is 10 percent of what you earn,” and, “You can’t escape now.”
Following the threats, the victim was transported to Malaysia where he underwent training to make fraudulent phone calls. However, in an unexpected turn of events, the syndicate determined he lacked the aptitude for the criminal work. He was permitted to return to Japan two weeks later without ever making a single scam call.
Police are continuing their investigation into the case, believing other individuals are involved in the overseas trafficking and fraud operation.
