TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested three members of a yakuza syndicate after they threatened a man and demanded a 5-million-yen payout because he visited a female acquaintance’s home, reports Nippon News Network (Sep. 15).
The suspects, including Renma Kurono, a member of the Kohei-ikka gang affiliated with the Sumiyoshi-kai, are accused of cornering the victim in a parking lot in Hachioji City this past May.
According to police, the male victim had just visited the woman’s residence when Kurono and two accomplices suddenly appeared to confront him.
“Bring us 5 million yen right now. You stepped into a yakuza’s woman’s house,” the men allegedly threatened, demanding that the victim “take responsibility” and settle the matter with cash.
During police questioning on suspicion of attempted extortion, Kurono has exercised his right to remain silent regarding the allegations.
The arrests come as Tokyo police intensify their crackdown on the Kohei-ikka. Authorities suspect the gang is heavily involved in specialized telephone fraud rings and operations linked to a tokuryu syndicate, whose members communicate anonymously via smartphone apps.
