PHILIPPINES (TR) – A 37-year-old Japanese man wanted by the Osaka Prefectural Police on suspicion of money laundering has been arrested in Manila. Two other Japanese suspects involved in the same crimes remain on the run in the region.
According to Philippine authorities, Hiroyuki Kawasaki is suspected of conspiring with his associates to set up multiple paper companies and transferring approximately 5.6 million yen from its corporate account, including 2.1 million yen in criminal proceeds, to another account, reports Fuji News Network (Aug. 28).
After committing the crime, Kawasaki fled to the Philippines. However, Philippine authorities arrested him as he was about to board a flight to Singapore at Ninoy Aquino International Airport in capital on August 14.
Liberton Group
Kawasaki played a central role in the money-laundering ring Liberton Group, which has approximately 500 paper companies under its umbrella and is believed to have repeatedly laundered money by managing more than 4,000 corporate accounts.
Osaka police obtained an arrest warrant for Kawasaki in May on suspicion of violating the Organized Crime Punishment Act for concealment of criminal proceeds and other charges. The warrant was made public in August.
Kawasaki is expected to be deported to Japan, and Osaka police plan to arrest him upon his return. Thereafter, police plan to conduct a full-scale investigation, including uncovering the full extent of Liberton Group.
Two other suspects
Arrest warrants have also been issued for two other suspects, Takamasa Ikeda, 38, and 37-year-old Shinya Ito. They are also members of the Liberton Group. Like Kawasaki, they also fled to the Philippines after committing money-laundering crimes, reports TV Asahi (Aug. 31).
Ikeda has since left for Singapore, but it is believed that Ito is still hiding in the Philippines.
