Osaka prosecutors arrested well-known music producer Tetsuya Komuro on Nov. 4 on suspicion of defrauding an investor of ¥500 million by concluding a contract for the transfer of copyrights he did not own.

Music producer Tetsuya Komuro was arrested Nov. 4 on suspicion of defrauding an investor of \500 million. KYODO PHOTO

Komuro, 49, is known for a large number of pop music hits since the 1990s but recently is said to have accumulated huge debts related to business and family matters.

The special investigative team at the Osaka District Public Prosecutor's Office also arrested two senior officials — Akihiko Hirane, 45, and Takashi Kimura, 56 — of a Tokyo-based entertainment agency, in which Komuro is involved as a board member, over the allegation.

"It's no mistake that we, the three, did it together. I have no excuses," Komuro was quoted as telling prosecutors. "I want to apologize to the victim and I'm ready to have the grace to face a criminal charge."

Komuro is suspected of pretending he owned the copyrights on 806 tunes and concluding a ¥1 billion sales contract with the buyer in Hyogo Prefecture in August 2006, according to prosecutors.

Komuro received ¥500 million in connection with the contract that month, they said.

Komuro wrote most of the 806 tunes but was not authorized to transfer the copyrights due to a contract he had with a music publishing firm, according to them.

Of the ¥500 million, ¥150 million is believed to have been transferred to Kimura, who assumed Komuro's part of debt payments, and the other ¥350 million is believed to have been used to pay back loans, informed sources said.