Woman sues crime boss over protection racket

Woman sues crime boss over protection racket
Published: 2013 July 21 08:35:33 (4811 Views)
A woman is suing the head of Japan's biggest yakuza organised crime group over protection money she paid to gangsters.

She claims the don of the Yamaguchi-gumi, Kenichi Shinoda, bears "employer's liability" for the gangsters who threatened to burn down her bar if she did not pay up.

The woman, who has not been named, is demanding Shinoda hands over 17m yen (£112,000) after mobsters forced her to pay between 30,000 and 100,000 yen a month between 1998 and 2010.
Kenichi Shinoda (C), the boss of Japan's Shinoda on his release from prison in 2011

She says Shinoda bears ultimate responsibility for her losses because the gangsters, members of the Inabaji Ikka, a local yakuza group connected to Yamaguchi-gumi, were affiliated to his nationwide umbrella crime syndicate.

On one occasion in 2008 when she tried to refuse to pay, she was warned that her bar in the central city of Nagoya could be burned down.

Lawyers say it is the first case of someone demanding recompense for protection money from a senior yakuza figure.

It comes as the owner of another bar begins legal action against Shinoda, claiming affiliated criminals burned down his business after he refused to pay protection money.

The Yamaguchi-gumi makes up more than 40% of the nation's organised criminals, with about 27,700 members, according to the National Police Agency.

Like the Italian mafia or Chinese triads, the yakuza engages in activities ranging from gambling, drugs and prostitution to loan sharking, protection rackets and white-collar crime.

The gangs, which are not illegal, have historically been tolerated by the authorities, although there are periodic clampdowns on some of their less savoury activities.

The yakuza are heavily mythologised in Japan, with films, television dramas and fan magazines glamorising lives of violence governed by a code of honour handed down from the samurai.

Earlier this month the Yamaguchi-gumi published a magazine for its members that included a poetry page and fishing diaries of senior gangsters.

The eight-page publication was an attempt to strengthen unity in the group.


- Skynews
Tags: gangster, lawsuit,
 0

You May Like These Videos

Comments

| Comment With Facebook Submit

There are no comments.

Big Reads

Pictures show fuel tankers offloading fuel in the bush

by Moses Zhou | 2019 August 13 07:53:37

Schoolgirl drops out after continuous 'sexual abuse' by teacher

by Staff Reporter | 2019 August 13 07:42:33

Bulawayo prostitutes dollarise

by Staff Reporter | 2018 December 01 00:43:29

DRAMA as mourners fight over deceased loan sharks' loot

by B-Metro | 2018 November 30 23:35:19

'Tsvangirai's ex' on police wanted list

by B-Metro | 2018 October 19 12:39:23

Dumped man glasses wife's face with broken beer bottle

by Staff Writer | 2018 October 19 12:32:05

Zimbabwe prostitutes hike prices

by Zimbabwe prostitutes hike prices | 2018 October 18 17:13:08

Pastor shocks female congregant with new panties

by Metro Writer | 2017 March 28 10:50:44

Harare man steals 10kg mealie meal from neighbour

by Court Reporter | 2017 March 28 07:56:29

Four company directors die in Vumba Mountain plane crash

by Staff Writer | 2017 March 28 07:38:59

Man with 'deformed' body bashes parents

by Staff Writer | 2017 March 24 09:48:46

Mugabe Knows Nothing About The Zimbabwe Constitution: MP

by Staff Reporter | 2016 October 01 08:12:02

Troubled Harare Giants Dynamos Falls Into Another Deep Crisis

by Own Correspondent | 2016 October 01 07:49:17

Shock As Local Bank Denies 'Rich' Mugabe's Son Heifty Credit

by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 30 19:14:54

Mugabe "Home Coming" And "Thank You" Rally On Cards

by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 23 06:48:24

Prof Moyo Was Dumped By Western Embassies, Claims Mutsvangwa

by Staff Reporter | 2016 September 22 10:08:07

Prof Jonathan Moyo In Fresh Beef With War Vets

by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 22 07:48:10

You Are Too Old To Lead, Aging Zim President Mugabe Told

by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 22 07:19:25

Younger Lover Beats Up Sugar Mama For Cheating

by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 03:21:43

Anti-Corruption Commission Loses Property In Failed Probe

by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 03:18:19

Mutsvangwa's Son Caught Up In Rape Case

by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 01:24:00

REMAINING PSL FIXTURES: ONLY 7 WEEKS LEFT

by Sports Correspondent | 2016 September 20 01:21:33

Victims Involved In Horror Crash Named

by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 01:16:09

Man Kills Uncle For Taking Him To Prophet

by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 01:11:08

Mphoko Threatens Zimra Over Irregular Taxes

by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 01:07:44

China Pours $46m On New Parliament Construction

by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 01:05:11

SHOCKING:14 Year Old HIV-Positive Boy Rapes 7 Pupils

by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 20 00:04:55

Tajamuka Slams Zimpapers, Fumes Over

by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 19 11:56:42

Mthwakazi Activists Torment Mujuru

by News Editor | 2016 September 19 10:52:58

We Did Not Fire Live Bullets: Police

by Staff Reporter | 2016 September 19 08:09:20

Ruling On 58 Protesters Expected Today 



by Court Reporter | 2016 September 19 08:10:40

6 Zanu PF Youths Nabbed For Assaulting Cops

by Court Reporter | 2016 September 19 08:11:50

Mutare Con-artist Cracks Zanu PF

by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 19 08:13:32

MSU Student Caught Peddling Drugs Tor Tuition Fees

by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 19 05:29:18

ZIMRA Dishes Out Rewards To Faithful Tax Payers

by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 19 05:24:19

Headmaster ‘Steals’ $17 000 From School's Fees

by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 19 05:21:24

Mujuru Party Fails To Pay $15 000 For Printed T-shirts

by Own Correspondent | 2016 September 19 05:14:37