Japan: first Yakuza arrests in sumo scandal
source: http://bit.ly/9twtYX
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Three members of organized crime groups affiliated with the Yamaguchi-gumi, the largest criminal organization in the nation, have been arrested on suspicion of extorting 6 million yen from a middleman in illegal gambling operations.
The three are the first gang members to be arrested over the gambling scandal that has involved many sumo wrestlers and stablemasters.
On Monday, the Metropolitan Police Department searched offices in Osaka and Fukuoka of the Yamaguchi-gumi affiliate organizations to which the three arrested men belong.
Arrested Sunday were Yoshihiko Yasuda, 45, a senior member of a gang based in Fukuoka; Satohiro Mantani, 37, a senior member of a gang based in Osaka Prefecture; and Katsuhito Tahara, 34, a member of the same gang as Mantani. The police also rearrested Mitsutomo Furuichi, 38, a former low-ranking sumo wrestler and self-described former member of a crime group, on Sunday for alleged extortion.
Furuichi has already been indicted on charges of extorting money from former ozeki Kotomitsuki. The police suspect the three gang members may have also been involved in Furuichi's attempts to extort hush money from Kotomitsuki.
The three are the first gang members to be arrested over the gambling scandal that has involved many sumo wrestlers and stablemasters.
On Monday, the Metropolitan Police Department searched offices in Osaka and Fukuoka of the Yamaguchi-gumi affiliate organizations to which the three arrested men belong.
Arrested Sunday were Yoshihiko Yasuda, 45, a senior member of a gang based in Fukuoka; Satohiro Mantani, 37, a senior member of a gang based in Osaka Prefecture; and Katsuhito Tahara, 34, a member of the same gang as Mantani. The police also rearrested Mitsutomo Furuichi, 38, a former low-ranking sumo wrestler and self-described former member of a crime group, on Sunday for alleged extortion.
Furuichi has already been indicted on charges of extorting money from former ozeki Kotomitsuki. The police suspect the three gang members may have also been involved in Furuichi's attempts to extort hush money from Kotomitsuki.
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