Japan police arrest men for fraud and embezzlement

Police in Japan have arrested two men in separate fraud and embezzlement cases.

In Saga Prefecture, a 33-year-old man was arrested by the Saga Prefectural Police for allegedly defrauding a man in his 70s of 3 million yen. The suspect and accomplices reportedly impersonated police officers, calling the victim to claim there was an arrest warrant or a potential leak of personal information. They convinced the victim to place the cash in his mailbox to prevent it from being withdrawn, after which the money was taken.

In Shiga Prefecture, a 51-year-old unemployed man was arrested by the Nagahama Police Station for the embezzlement of approximately 1.4 million yen in community association funds. The suspect, who served as a local neighborhood leader, allegedly withdrew the money from the association's account in 18 separate instances between February 2025 and March 2026. He reportedly admitted to using the funds for gambling and debt repayment.