Korean Media: Japanese Suspect Unmasked After Attempting to Impersonate South Korean
According to a report by the Korean-language edition of JoongAng Ilbo on November 4, a senior member of a Japanese fraud syndicate based in the Philippines was apprehended by local authorities after attempting to conceal his identity by impersonating a South Korean national.
The individual, Yamamoto Kōta (57), a key figure in the notorious Japanese criminal group known as "JP Dragon," was arrested by Philippine immigration officials and police. Yamamoto is believed to have served as the organization’s second-in-command, following the arrest last year of its leader, Yoshio Ryūji.
"JP Dragon" is a criminal organization headquartered in the Philippines, accused of targeting elderly Japanese citizens through phone scams that mimic law enforcement agencies. The alleged fraud has resulted in damages amounting to approximately 900 million yen.
Authorities in the Philippines collaborated with Japanese investigators after obtaining detailed intelligence regarding Yamamoto’s residence, leading to his arrest.
On October 31, Yamamoto was detained while traveling by bus from his residence in Dingalan, located in northern Luzon Island. This followed a prior arrest warrant issued by the Fukuoka District Court in Japan, citing charges of fraud and theft.
At the time of his arrest, Yamamoto claimed to be a South Korean national and provided a completely fabricated name. His identification documents, including a driver’s license, were obtained through the unauthorized use of another person’s identity.
Philippine authorities plan to extradite Yamamoto to Japan for prosecution.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1880890905910272/
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