Tokyo police have arrested two Liberian males on suspicion of stealing money beneath the guise of a gold transaction.
The 2 are charged with stealing ¥34 million ($237,000) introduced by a 43-year-old secondhand items vendor to a lodge in Tokyo’s Chuo Ward round 2 p.m. on Nov. 16, 2023. They each deny the theft allegations, investigative sources mentioned.
In line with the sources, the vendor visited the lodge to purchase 5 kilograms of gold grains from the Liberian males and one other non-Japanese man.
After the vendor confirmed the money to them, one of many suspects wrapped the cash in newspaper, saying this was for security. Then the cash was changed with counterfeit payments whereas the vendor was choosing up grains spilled by one other man.
The vendor left the lodge to look at the grains and returned some 90 minutes later after discovering that they had been copper grains painted in gold coloration. The three males had already disappeared.
The Liberian males left Japan the next day and had been arrested Friday after coming again and arriving at Narita Worldwide Airport in Chiba Prefecture. The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Division is trying to find the remaining suspect, who has fled overseas.
Money totaling ¥110 million was stolen in 5 related instances that passed off at accommodations within the capital’s Minato and Chiyoda Wards between August final 12 months and June this 12 months, the sources added.
