TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a pair of male Liberian nationals over the alleged swindle of a valuable metals supplier in Chuo Ward final yr.
On November 16, a male secondhand supplier in his 40s visited a lodge in Chuo Ward with 34 million yen in money in anticipation of finishing up a transaction for “gold,” studies NHK (Sep. 9).
At round 2:00 p.m., Joseph Kamera Sandyman, 43, and Lee F. James, 46, arrived with a complete of 5 kilograms of copper pellets, claiming they had been “gold grains.”
After receiving the money introduced by the secondhand supplier and wrapping it in newspaper, one of many suspects spilled the copper pellets on the ground. Whereas they had been all selecting up the pellets, the suspects allegedly swapped the true money for counterfeit payments that had been wrapped in newspaper that they’d ready beforehand.
Upon his arrest on suspicion of theft, James denied the fees, “I don’t know what that is all about,” he mentioned. Sandyman additionally denies the allegations, police mentioned.
“In order that nobody can contact them”
Simply earlier than the incident, the suspects took the true payments and positioned them in newspaper. On the time, James mentioned, “In order that nobody can contact them.” It was at this level, that the swap was made, police mentioned.
The counterfeit notes contained paper, a few of which resembled banknotes and had the quantity “1 million yen” written on them. It’s believed that Sandyman ready the paper.
The supplier later determined to commerce the “gold,” however the pellets turned out to be copper, not gold. The incident got here to mild when he realized that the 34 million yen in money had additionally been switched with counterfeit payments.
A number of comparable incidents whereby foreigners have swindled different victims have been confirmed, and the whole quantity of harm is believed to exceed 100 million yen. Police are actually investigating whether or not there’s a connection between the circumstances.
