Alleged Yakuza nabbed in Pattaya
A 34-YEAR-OLD man alleged to be a member of Japan's second-largest Yakuza gang was arrested at a Pattaya condominium in Chon Buri province on Saturday, police announced at a press conference yesterday.
Patrol and Special Operation Division chief Pol Maj-General Panurat Lakboon said the arrest of Shin-iji Nakata followed a request from the Japanese Embassy last week for deputy national police chief Jakthip Chaijinda to locate Nakata.
His gang allegedly duped people via phone calls into purchasing bonds from April to July last year, causing 85 million yen (about Bt22 million) in damages. Japanese authorities issued an arrest warrant last November for Nakata, who then fled to Thailand.
So far they have arrested 20 members of the 6,000-strong gang, which allegedly operated under the Sumiyoshi-kai crime clan.
Their frauds allegedly caused total damage of Bt10.5 billion, Panurat said.
Nakata was also charged with overstaying his visa. He was due to be taken to Ratchadapisek Crim-inal Court in Bangkok later yesterday before being detained at the Immigration Police facility.
Japanese authorities are due to collect him up in 10 days to take him back to face legal action in Japan.