Japanese Influencer Found Guilty over Tax Evasion

Tokyo, July 15 (Jiji Press)–Tokyo District Court on Wednesday found Reika Kuroki, a 38-year-old Japanese influencer, guilty of evading about 157 million yen in corporate and consumption taxes. The court sentenced Kuroki to two years and six months in prison, suspended for four years, and fined Tokyo-based advertising company Solarie, which she heads, 40 million yen. As influencer Reika Miyazaki, Kuroki has some 440,000 Instagram followers. “Based on strong criminal intent, (Kuroki) had a certain degree of premeditation,” judge Ko Sasaki said. “The motive was selfish, and the responsibility is grave,” the judge also said. Even so, the court deemed a suspended sentence appropriate, mainly because Kuroki had filed amended tax returns. Two men accused of aiding and abetting her by issuing fictitious receipts also received suspended sentences. During previous trial sessions, Kuroki claimed that “sales (at her company) rose more than expected” while saying, “I committed serious crimes, and I deeply regret it.” According to the ruling, Kuroki evaded the taxes in the year through January 2021 and the two years through January 2024. END [Copyright The Jiji Press, Ltd.]