Taishi Shimizu

The man was arrested by Tokushima Prefectural Police for alleged fraud and was quoted as saying, "We confined the four in our office and killed them."

He said he helped confine the men at the group's office in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo, and that the four were beaten to death by more than a dozen other members of the group, police said.

They said the man and nine others, including Taishi Shimizu, the alleged ring leader, were arrested on suspicion of conspiring to send a fake bill to a woman in Oita Prefecture and swindling her out of ¥1.13 million.

Police said they are investigating whether Shimizu, 26, who was called the "president" by the group members, was involved in the confinement and murders.

The Japan Times Weekly: June 18, 2005
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