Chinese Dragon gang member arrested for attempted extortion of teen in Tokyo karaoke parlour
The Chinese Dragon gang has traditionally recruited members from the estimated 10,000 children of Japanese colonial families who were left in China after the second world war
Police in Tokyo have arrested a member of an underworld group made up of descendants of Japanese abandoned in China in the closing days of the second world war on charges of illegally confining and attempted extortion of a Chinese national.
Suhei Cho, 22, is allegedly a member of the Chinese Dragon organised crime group but has denied the charges, the All-Nippon News Network reported.
According to police, the 19-year-old alleged victim was approached by a Chinese woman in a restaurant in the Ikebukuro district of Tokyo in August. The woman then suggested that they leave together and go to a nearby karaoke parlour, the Tokyo Reporter news site said.
Once in a booth at the karaoke parlour, the victim was allegedly confined by Cho and at least two accomplices.
They reportedly demanded Y1.4 million (US$12,450) in cash from the victim. When he resisted, they burned his hand with a cigarette.
Numerous similar cases have been reported to Ikebukuro police in the last 12 months and authorities are looking into whether they are related.
