JAPANESE NET CAFE PROSECUTION

14 September 2007

Accused took a cut from online gambling profits, say police


A Kyoto, Japan employee of an Internet casino group has been arrested for taking a cut from profits earned by his employer from customers who gambled on the casino site from the cafe, police claim.

Yoshiaki Takahashi (43) a resident of Hanamigawa-ku, Chiba, is accused of accepting money gained from crimes, according to a Mainichi news report.

Takahashi denied the allegations during questioning. "I didn't know the money was part of proceeds from illegal gambling," he was quoted as telling investigators.

Takahashi received a total of 16 million yen from the 42-year-old former operator of an Internet cafe in Higashiyama-ku, Kyoto, on five occasions in January last year, Kyoto Prefectural Police investigators said. The money was part of proceeds that the Internet cafe operator gained from customers who gambled on the casino site at his cafe.

The leader of the group operating the online casino site, who is a U.S. national, has been placed on a wanted list.

Online Casino News courtesy of InfoPowa