Japanese Authorities Arrest Hayashi Akihiro and Two Others for Alleged Money Laundering of 500 Billion Yen

Japanese authorities have arrested three individuals, including company executive Hayashi Akihiro, suspected of money laundering involving approximately 500 billion yen. The arrests were made by a joint task force from the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department and four other prefectural police departments. The suspects are believed to have hidden proceeds from a social media-based investment scam, moving about 64.5 million yen across multiple accounts between February 22 and 26, 2024. The money is thought to have been laundered through overseas financial institutions to scam groups in China, Vietnam, and Taiwan. The suspects reportedly managed around 300 bank accounts, purchasing dormant company accounts for 1.5 to 2 million yen each.