World · East Asia & Pacific · 4 hrs ago
Former Japanese judo team member arrested over ¥300,000 ATM withdrawal
A former Japanese national judo team member was arrested on suspicion of stealing cash from another person’s bank card.
Police say he withdrew ¥300,000 at a convenience-store ATM in Kumamoto on September 28.
The card belonged to a woman in her 80s who had reportedly been tricked by a man posing as a police officer and lost two bank cards.
Investigators suspect the former athlete acted as a cash withdrawer for a fraud group, but his wider role remains under investigation.
He won silver in the 2014 Asian Games and competed for Japan in the men’s 66-kilogram judo category.
Police have not said whether he admits or denies the allegation, and the case remains under investigation.
A former Japanese national judo team member was arrested on suspicion of withdrawing ¥300,000 with a bank card issued in another person’s name.
Police suspect he acted as a cash withdrawer for a fraud group, but say they have not disclosed whether he admits or denies the allegation.
The withdrawal allegedly took place on September 28 at a convenience-store ATM in Higashi Ward, Kumamoto City.
The card belonged to a woman in her 80s who was reportedly tricked by a man posing as a police officer shortly before the withdrawal.
The reports give different Japanese spellings of the suspect’s name.
- Who
- A 34-year-old former Japanese national judo team member. The reports use different spellings of his name.
- What
- He was arrested on suspicion of stealing ¥300,000 by withdrawing it from an ATM with another person’s bank card.
- When
- He was arrested on October 21, 2026. The alleged withdrawal occurred on September 28.
- Where
- At a convenience-store ATM in Higashi Ward, Kumamoto City, Japan.
- Why
- Police suspect he withdrew money for a fraud group. His alleged role in the group remains under investigation.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
A man posing as a police officer reportedly tricked a woman in her 80s into handing over two bank cards.
The suspect allegedly used a card in another person’s name to withdraw ¥300,000 from a convenience-store ATM in Kumamoto City.
The former judo team member was arrested on suspicion of theft.
- Suspect's age
- 34
- Alleged amount withdrawn
- ¥300,000
- Alleged withdrawal date
- September 28
- Alleged location
- Convenience-store ATM, Higashi Ward, Kumamoto City
- Cardholder
- Woman in her 80s living in Kumamoto Prefecture
- Judo achievement
- Silver medal in the men’s 66 kg event at the 2014 Asian Games