Tokyo cops arrest yakuza for threatening to kill IT exec

TOKYO (TR) – Tokyo Metropolitan Police arrested a boss of the Yamaguchi-gumi organized crime group for the repeated extortion of a 49-year-old IT executive, reports the Sankei Shimbun (April 18).

Between October of 2012 and December of last year, Kenji Urushihara, 52, is alleged to have used threats in collecting a total of 130 million yen on a 60 million yen loan from the executive.

Urushihara has reportedly denied the allegations. “I didn’t make any threats,” the suspect is quoted by officers from the Shinjuku Police Station.

In July of 2011, the loan was granted at the suggestion of Urushihara for a stock purchase by the executive. After the investment failed, the suspect approached the victim on approximately 40 occasions to gain repayment of the loan and interest. “I will kill you,” he allegedly threatened.

Police are now investigating whether the extorted proceeds of the crime were used to fund the Yamaguchi-gumi.