13-3-2024 (JAKARTA) A Japanese national accused of orchestrating a massive investment scam worth US$90 million is set to be deported to his home country after nearly four years on the run. Yusuke Yamazaki, 43, was apprehended by Indonesian authorities on January 31st while attempting to cross into Malaysia aboard a small wooden boat near Bulan island in the Riau Islands province.
The arrest of Yamazaki, who had been a fugitive since 2020, marks the culmination of an international manhunt spearheaded by Japanese authorities. His capture has shed light on the intricate web of deception allegedly woven by Yamazaki and his associates at Nishiyama Farm, an Okayama-based company that operated farm tours across Japan before collapsing amid allegations of fraud in February 2019.
According to Nyoman Gede Surya Mataram, the head of the provincial office of the Ministry of Law and Human Rights, Yamazaki was initially detained on suspicion of visa violations after providing false identification. However, further investigation by Indonesian police revealed his true identity as an international fugitive sought by Japanese authorities.
“He initially gave a false name and was detained on suspicion of visa violations,” Mataram stated. “But police later identified him as an international fugitive.”
Yamazaki’s arrest has shed light on his intricate efforts to evade capture, with reports suggesting that he had fled Japan for Hong Kong in February 2020, shortly after the allegations against Nishiyama Farm emerged. Indonesian authorities believe that Yamazaki subsequently made his way to their country via Turkey in April 2021, embarking on a journey that would ultimately lead to his apprehension.
The fallout from the Nishiyama Farm scandal has been far-reaching, with five individuals connected to the company arrested in October 2021 and subsequently convicted for their roles in the alleged US$90 million fraud scheme. Yamazaki, however, remained at large until his recent capture.
In a lawsuit filed by 41 investors from Tokyo and four other prefectures seeking compensation from Yamazaki and his accomplices, the Nagoya District Court ordered the defendants to pay approximately US$2.2 million in February 2022, underscoring the substantial financial impact of the alleged scam.
