Suspected Asian Fraud Ring Exec Served Fresh Warrant in Japan

Tokyo, July 5 (Jiji Press)–Japanese police served fresh arrest warrants on three people on Sunday, including a 44-year-old man believed to be an executive of one of Asia’s largest international fraud organizations, for allegedly violating the immigration control law by illegally using a residence card. The man, Hu Shi, and two others were initially arrested last month by Tokyo’s Metropolitan Police Department on suspicion of submitting a false move-in notification. Also on Sunday, the joint investigation headquarters of the MPD and the Osaka prefectural police arrested Chen Xiaoguang, 49, a Chinese national living in Tokyo’s Chuo Ward, whose occupation is unknown, on suspicion of violating the law. Hu has partially denied the charges, while Chen has denied the allegations. According to investigative sources, Hu is believed to be the second-in-command of Prince Holding Group, considered one of Asia’s largest international fraud organizations and subject to sanctions by U.S. authorities and others. He holds a five-year residence status as a highly skilled professional and is believed to have been traveling back and forth to Japan since at least around 2023. The joint investigation headquarters is working to clarify the details of his activities in Japan. The police allege that they conspired to use Hu’s residence card on May 28 at the Chuo ward office to impersonate him and complete the procedures for seal registration, among other things. Around April 17, the four met at a hotel in the western Japan city of Osaka to discuss how Hu could obtain permanent residence in Japan. It is believed that a 36-year-old woman received the residence card, and a 31-year-old man carried out the procedures at the ward office. Hu reportedly said that he felt in danger in other countries and that he wanted to live in a place where he could be safe. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]