Police said Tuesday that two men have turned themselves in over the beating to death of a 31-year-old man in a Roppongi nightclub in September.
In the early hours of Sept 2, a group of 10 men in masks entered the club Flower, which was full with about 300 people, and proceeded to beat restaurant owner Ryosuke Fujimoto to death with pipes and metal bats. CCTV footage showed the group leaving only minutes after their arrival. Fujimoto was rushed to the hospital but died a short time later of severe head injuries.
The two men who turned themselves in on Sunday were quoted by police as saying they were present at the attack that led to Fujimoto's death, but claim they did not take part in the beating, Fuji TV reported.
Last week, police issued arrest warrants for 15 men in connection with the murder. According to police, all of the men are former members of the Kanto Rengo gang, to which Fujimoto has also been connected, tabloid media reported. The magazines claim that Fujimoto's restaurant was funded by money borrowed from lenders connected to organized crime. Reports suggest that Fujimoto had failed to pay back any of the money he owed after a year.
According to a report in Friday magazine, the group of men belonged to a “non-gangster organization” which was then hired to attack Fujimoto. Shukan Asahi claimed the money-lender could have been a former founding member of Kanto Rengo, which is believed to have extorted money from club Flower in the past.
Police said both men who turned themselves in have been released without charge while they are being investigated.
© Japan Today
16 Comments
Login to comment
nath
10 or 15?
nath
Police said both men who turned themselves in have been released without charge while they are being investigated
Not sure I undestand
Thomas Weisbach
@JapanGal 10 men entered the club, 15 are wanted for the murder. I guess the 5 that didn't enter the club assisted or where otherwise involved.
HollisBrown
HollisBrown
(Try that again!)
OK, so presuming they are residing in Japan, this pretty much confirms they're currently unemployed.
Cos
Oh, you can hire non-gangsters to murder people ? They are what ? Frelance executioners ? Ronin samurais ? CIA doing extras ? Bashibazouk ?
alliswellinjapan
Believe the Friday magazine report referred to in the above article suggesting the victim had debt from yakuza is over 3 months back. More of recent reports seem to suggest they attacked the wrong guy as part of a yakuza war including some sources saying one of the two guys turning themselves already confirmed as such.
Alphaape
Isn't this what happened with a few other high profile murder cases where the J-cops had the suspects and let them go, later to find out that they really did it.
I take it that since they didn't mention nationalities, they are Japanese suspects.
nath
With all these people turning themselves in, one wonders what the police actually do all day in this country.
Nessie
Who else thinks this is going to be a familiar tune?
Tom Thompson
yakitty yack don't talk back
Frungy
The loan terms were good, but the interest was murder!
... as for these two, just bear in mind that in the Japanese justice system the burden of proof is on them, not the prosecution. They will have to PROVE that they didn't take part in the murder, and since everyone was wearing masks... well, they're going to have a hard time proving they were just standing on the sidelines having a smoke.
AkariYoshida
This seems to be a problem in the whole world not just Japan, take for instance Boston, USA. Its the leader in gang violence in America and the police cant do anything about it. They have tried but every time they take out a gang or a gang leader a new one is there ready to fill its/their spot. Its not just the police but the morals these children grow up with. A good foundation from an early age can usually prevent such actions. Now there are some kids that will go separate ways, and not abide by the laws of society but there shouldn't be as many as we have today. Destroying gangs wont get you anywhere. Starting from the basics is what counts in the long run
alliswellinjapan
Reported in Yomiuri today the guy told police they attacked the wrong man
Impersonator
Perhaps their true intention, by turning themselves in, was to look for police protection? It is nobody's land out here.
I wonder if the investigation goes beyond the attackers and up to the people who wanted that guy dead. So far it looks like I can hire someone to kill anyone, and if they get caught I am off the hook.
Hopefully justice will be served.
nath
Too Bad, you were associate to a Murder, You will be charged with Murder!
Or let me guess, another one of Japan's Kiddie rules will apply here, and they will be given suspended sentences, while a U.S. Military J-Walker in Okinawa will get thrown in Jail... Wouldn't surprise me...