Number of 'It's me' fraud cases surged 45% to 4,418 in 2010
Local Japanese News In English
The number of so-called "It's me" fraud cases recorded by the National Police Agency surged 44.5 percent in 2010 from a year earlier to 4,418, with victims swindled out of a total of 7.92 billion yen, the agency said Thursday.
In the "It's me" fraud, criminals target mainly elderly people and swindle them out of cash cards or money by pretending to be relatives, bank officials or policemen.
Total bank-transfer swindles, including "It's me" fraud cases, fell 9.6 percent to 6,637 cases with fraud losses amounting to 10.09 billion yen, the agency said. (AP)
Source: Source 7
Crime ? Man arrested over knife attack on 8-year-old girl in Yamaguchi Pref
Local Japanese News In English
Police in Ube, Yamaguchi Prefecture, on Tuesday arrested a 23-year-old unemployed man over the knife attack on an 8-year-old school girl in the street on…
Source: cleanup
Man fatally stabbed in Yokohama by wife's boss
Local Japanese News In English
Police said Thursday they have identified the suspect who fatally stabbed a man in Yokohama, and then himself, as his wife's boss at the Kanagawa shipping company where all three worked, according to media reports.
TBS reported that the victim, identified as Yuji Kurosaki, 42, and his wife Satoko, 39, returned to their apartment in Sakae Ward at about 8 p.m. on Tuesday. Satoko told police that the doorbell rang and her husband answered it while she was in another room. She said she heard an argument and came to the entrance to see her husband struggling with a man wearing a helmet bearing Japan Post Office's "JP" logo, TBS reported. (Japan Today)
Source: News On Japan
Female manager of gentlemen's 'snack club' stabbed to death
Local Japanese News In English
Police said Thursday they have arrested a man for allegedly stabbing to death the female manager of a gentlemen's snack club, Snack Reika, in Kanazawa City, Ishikawa Prefecture, on Wednesday afternoon.
According to TBS, the suspect-a 69-year-old man-called police and told them what he had done, and then remained at the scene until police arrived shortly after 5 p.m.
Police found the victim, identified as Reiko Kinoshita, collapsed on the floor with two knives protruding from her body and at least 10 stab and slash wounds around her face, neck and chest. A third knife was found on the floor of the bar. (Japan Today)
Source: News On Japan
Man arrested over hit-and-run that left victim's body in drainage ditch
Local Japanese News In English
A 45-year-old man has been arrested over the hit-and-run death of a man whose body was found in a drainage ditch in Tsuchiura, Ibaraki Prefecture, on Nov 29.
According to NTV, the suspect-who is the manager of a restaurant-has been charged with vehicular manslaughter and driving without a license. Police say they believe the victim was struck in the early morning hours of Nov 26 and fell into the ditch where his body was found three days later.
Investigators discovered a vehicle with damage consistent with such an accident near the scene, and determined it belonged to the accused, NTV reported. (Japan Today)
Source: News On Japan
Yakuza gangs face fight for survival as Japan cracks down on organised crime
Local Japanese News In English
After decades of tacit acceptance, Japan's yakuza gangs are facing their biggest challenge: not from the police, but from ordinary citizens who are under pressure to shun the mob or be named and shamed.
Tokyo recently became the last of Japan's 47 prefectures to introduce local laws aimed at depriving crime syndicates of income by targeting firms that knowingly do business with them. Under the nationwide ordinances, firms that help the yakuza earn money will be warned, and their names made public if they refuse to sever their ties. Repeat offenders face fines of up to 500,000 yen (£4,200) and company officials can face jail terms of up to a year.
The idea, say law enforcement officials, is to shame businesses into turning their backs on the mob. "It is going to be more difficult for the yakuza to collect funds," said Akihiko Shiba, a former police superintendent who is now a lawyer specialising in corporate compliance. "Police once concentrated on the gangs themselves, but the new approach is clamping down on those who help the gangs make money."
The authorities' fight against organised crime took another step forward on Thursday when the national police agency unveiled a new bill enabling officers to step up surveillance of the most violent gangs and take pre-emptive measures if necessary. (guardian.co.uk)
Source: News On Japan
Fukushima couple stabbed to death in home
Local Japanese News In English
Police in Fukushima said Friday they have arrested an unemployed 45-year-old man in connection with the murders of a couple who were found murdered at their home on Thursday.
(Japan Today)
Source: News On Japan
3 bodies found in apartment in suspected group suicide
Local Japanese News In English
Police said Friday that three bodies have been discovered in an apartment in Hachioji, Tokyo, in what they believe to be a group suicide.
(Japan Today)
Source: News On Japan