New information has been received by the Last One Mile Labor Union.
Regarding the reason why the defendant, Tanaka, had previously told those around him that he would "consult with the organized crime countermeasures division of the police."
According to the informant, the personal trouble that defendant Nakano was attempting to report to the authorities was not a simple matter.
The defendant Nakano, it is said, was attempting to have the police's organized crime countermeasures division investigate the reality of the fraudulent call center that was allegedly operating in Cambodia, the circumstances under which his freedom was restricted there, and the involvement of Mr. Makoto Watanabe, Chairman and CEO of Last One Mile Inc., by consulting with them, thereby aiming to have the entire organization involved investigated.
The informant states that the defendant Nakano expressed, "I wanted to blow them all away, including Mr. Makoto Watanabe."
The point is that by providing information to the police, they intended to simultaneously investigate the related organizations, funds, personnel, and bases, and dismantle their structure.
Now that new information has come to light regarding the fact that the defendant Nakano mentioned consulting the organized crime countermeasures division and the background of that statement, we demand a direct explanation and investigation from Mr. Watanabe and Last One Mile Inc.
To consult with the Organized Crime Countermeasures Division
It was a potential accusation against the entire organization, not just a mere threat.
Up until now, the specific meaning of Nakano's statement that he would "consult with the Organized Crime Countermeasures Division" was not fully understood.
However, if the information received this time is true, that statement holds a very specific meaning.
Defendant Nakano may have intended to convey the following problems about the environment he was in in Cambodia to the investigative authorities.
- The presence of scam call centers in Cambodia
- The phone, terminal, and communication account that were used there
- The existence of fraudulent acts targeting victims within Japan.
- Management of Japanese nationals working or residing locally
- The possibility that the person's movement, communication, and finances were restricted.
- Base funders, instructors, and ultimate beneficiaries
- Contact with Makoto Watanabe and parties related to Last One Mile
These are not just personal disputes.
This is what the organized crime countermeasures division should handle, as it can develop into issues such as special fraud, international crime, human trafficking, confinement, criminal proceeds, and money laundering.
The National Police Agency's Organized Crime Control Department oversees special fraud, international investigations, and money laundering.
Additionally, the National Police Agency is soliciting information from the public regarding specific details that could lead to suspects or operational bases for special scams.
Reference:National Police Agency, Organized Crime Control Department
In Cambodian scam hubs, actual confinement is occurring.
In recent years, Cambodia has been facing a serious problem of people from all over the world being deprived of their freedom at scam centers and forced to engage in fraudulent activities.
Cases have also been reported of Japanese men being held at local scam operations and protected as victims of human trafficking.
In addition, incidents have repeatedly occurred where bases used by Japanese nationals working as "kakeko" (impersonators) such as police officers have been raided, and numerous Japanese nationals have been detained and arrested.
Reference:Report: Japanese man held at Cambodian scam base rescued
Considering this reality, we cannot simply assume that "a person involved in a fraud case cannot be a victim of confinement or domination."
Responsibility for participating in fraud and the possibility of being controlled or monitored by higher individuals or organizations are not mutually exclusive.
If Mr. Nakano is held criminally or civilly liable, that should naturally be pursued.
However, if Defendant Nakano himself was trying to expose superiors, financiers, and administrators above him, there is no reason why that information should be sealed along with Defendant Nakano's arrest.
The association previously questioned Defendant Nakano's explanation of "confinement."
The Last One Mile Labor Union has previously published articles stating that based on the circumstances observed and heard directly by union members residing in Cambodia, the explanation by defendant Nakano that he was "confined" feels inconsistent.
The local union members who saw defendant Nakano observed him going out, eating and drinking, meeting people, and seemingly acting freely within certain limits.
Therefore, the union members could not interpret the words spoken by the defendant Nakano as a request for rescue from confinement.
However, confinement and control are not always in obvious forms like chains or locks.
This could include creating a psychological and economic situation where the individual cannot freely escape or report the situation, by exploiting their passport, money, residence, job, communications, involvement in crime, or harm to family.
Upon receiving this information, re-examining the statements made at the time suggests that the defendant Nakano's remark about "consulting with the Organized Crime Countermeasures Division" may not have been mere bravado or a threat to union members.
Did Baron Nakano's defendant resent the union members he didn't notice?
According to the informant, the defendant Nakano harbored strong dissatisfaction and resentment that the union members residing in Cambodia did not notice the signs he was sending or the situation he was in.
Whether this is true will have to be determined by cross-referencing LINE messages, recordings, activity logs, and testimonies from involved parties from that time.
Nevertheless, as a union member at the time, I have a responsibility to re-examine it, as there is a possibility that I overlooked it.
If Mr. Nakano was truly seeking help, our union will also sincerely reflect on its inability to understand his intentions.
At the same time, this does not exempt Defendant Nakano from charges of fraud, embezzlement, investment, tax, or other issues in which he is alleged to have been involved.
Responsibility will be pursued as responsibility, and the issues that were being accused will be clarified as separate issues.
That's a fair stance.
What was the "problem with Mr. Makoto Watanabe" that Mr. Nakano intended to sue over?
The information gathered this time suggests that the defendant Nakano may have feared being held solely responsible.
Isn't it possible that the defendant Nakano was trying to claim that there were superiors, managers, and beneficiaries in the businesses and call centers that were allegedly conducted in Cambodia?
And we have received information that they were going to name Mr. Makoto Watanabe as that person.
Our association has received the following information regarding the relationship between Mr. Watanabe and the defendant Nakano in the past.
- Information that Mr. Watanabe supported the activities of defendant Nakano in Cambodia.
- Information that the defendant Nakano and Mr. Watanabe were in continuous contact
- Information that they were discussing the defendant Nakano's return to Japan, escape, and apprehension.
- Possibility of use by domestic Japanese corporations, accounts, terminals, and personnel
- The possibility that information or benefits were provided from the Nakano defendant to Mr. Watanabe's side.
These are not facts established by the court at this time.
However, if the defendant Nakano had mentioned consulting the organized crime countermeasures division, the police should have verified the content of that consultation and his relationship with Mr. Watanabe.
Open Questions to Mr. Makoto Watanabe
- Did you continuously communicate with the defendant Nakano Masayoshi during his stay in Cambodia?
- Were you aware that the defendant Nakano had stated he would "consult with the organized crime countermeasures division of the police"?
- Did you hear from the defendant Nakano or anyone connected to them about what the defendant was intending to consult about?
- Did you know the location, operator, devices used, and employees of the call center that was said to exist in Cambodia?
- Is there any fact that funds, personnel, communication equipment, customer information, or other conveniences were provided to the call center in question?
- Is there any fact that you were involved in the management of defendant Nakano's passport, travel, residence, funds, or means of communication?
- Did you know that there were circumstances that prevented the defendant Nakano from freely leaving Cambodia?
- Did you ever ask the defendant Nakano not to consult the police or a third party?
- Did you access the mobile phone, LINE, Telegram, email, and other accounts used by the defendant Nakano?
- Did you provide any advice or instructions regarding the defendant Nakano's return to Japan, his hiding, his apprehension, or his dealings with investigative authorities?
- Is there any fact that funds, facilities, or employees of Last One Mile, Inc. or its affiliated companies were used to handle matters related to Defendant Nakano?
- Will you accept an investigation by an independent third party regarding the above?
Public questions for Last One Mile, Inc.
- Did your company investigate the contact between Mr. Makoto Watanabe and the defendant Masayoshi Nakano?
- Are there any internal documents or communication records regarding Cambodia call centers as scam hubs or related entities?
- Is it true that funds from your company or affiliated companies were disbursed to defendant Nakano or Cambodian affiliated parties?
- Have you investigated the possibility that your company's terminals, accounts, servers, phone numbers, or customer information may have been used?
- Have you received any whistleblower reports regarding this issue from current or former employees?
- Did you investigate the contents of the report independently, rather than identifying or retaliating against the whistleblower?
- Is the audit committee separating Mr. Watanabe from influencing the investigation?
- Is there any intention to confirm the content that Defendant Nakano intended to consult with the organized crime countermeasures division about?
What we ask of the police and prosecutors
We ask that the police and prosecutors not treat the defendant Nakano's statement solely as an explanation regarding his own criminal liability.
If the defendant Nakano has specific information about Cambodia's fraud hubs, confinement, human trafficking, financiers, and directors, it should be investigated as organized crime.
Specifically, I would like to request confirmation on the following matters.
- Record of defendant Nakano's attempt to consult with the organized crime countermeasures division
- Presence of LINE messages, emails, recordings, etc. containing the consultation details
- Communication, location, and remittance records during your stay in Cambodia
- Contact records between the local call center and relevant parties in Japan
- Communication history with Mr. Makoto Watanabe or Last One Mile personnel
- Terminal, account, account, and cryptocurrency administrator
- Whether there were any superiors, investors, or beneficiaries above the defendant Nakano
If the case is closed by arresting only defendant Nakano, then if there is an organization behind it, that organization will be preserved.
The National Police Agency is calling on the public to provide information that could lead to the identification of special fraud operation bases.
Since there is a possibility that the defendant Nakano himself was trying to provide that information, the investigative authorities should not ignore those words.
Not defending Mr. Nakano, but pursuing the hidden higher structure.
The Last One Mile Labor Union does not unconditionally defend the defendant Hiroki Nakano.
If there is a victim and the defendant Nakano bears legal responsibility, that responsibility should be strictly held.
However, we cannot allow the potential masterminds, financiers, administrators, and beneficiaries behind the scenes to escape accountability by shifting all the blame onto Defendant Nakano alone.
If there is anything Defendant Nakano was trying to communicate to the organized crime countermeasures division, our union will take over the intent of that issue-raising.
If there is a chance we failed to notice the call for rescue back then, we will not miss it this time.
What was the Cambodian base that Defendant Nakano tried to sue?
Who provided the funding?
Who gave the instructions?
Who managed the personnel and devices?
Who ultimately profited?
And how were Makoto Watanabe and Last One Mile Co., Ltd. related?
The Last One Mile Labor Union will collect recordings, LINE messages, Telegram chats, remittance records, corporate documents, and testimonies from local sources to pursue the facts.
This is not a campaign to reduce defendant Nakano's sentence.
This is an effort aimed at going beyond a single perpetrator to uncover the entire organization that may exist behind them, thereby helping to recover damages for victims and prevent recurrence.
If Mr. Makoto Watanabe and Last One Mile Inc. provide rational counterarguments, explanations, and materials, our union will review the contents and handle the matter fairly.
What was Defendant Kazuyoshi Nakano actually trying to sue for?
Do not bury that answer within the single event of an arrest.