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Businessman reports Yakuza threat
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Posted on Apr 30 2002
A 51-year-old businessman complained to police Sunday that three of his former associates, disgruntled over a business partnership gone sour, have threatened to hire Yakuzas to kill him.
Yang Hun Lee, owner of the J. Lee Investment building, told police that suspects Shunji Tsuchibashi, 38, Hideki Furuta, 39, and Zhao Ju Huang, 30, barged into his tenant’s premises in Garapan, threatening to bring in Yakuzas to shoot and burn both Lee and his tenant.
Furuta, who is also Lee’s former tenant, had been evicted from the building early in the year and apparently had an axe to grind with the landlord, according to Public Safety spokesperson Lt. Pete C. Muña.
Furuta, who reportedly has belongings left behind in the space he used to rent out, is staking a claim on the said property.
But Lee, in a report filed at the police, however, explained that the items were purposely left behind pursuant to a business agreement the parties had entered into earlier on. The trial court even ruled on the case in favor of Lee, Muña quoted a police report.
Lee told police that even after the release of the lower court’s decision, Furuta would give him and tenants problems.
Last April 28, 2002, specifically, Furuta again visited the building with his girlfriend, Huang and Tsuchibashi, Muña said.
Lee’s tenant told the landlord that Furuta allegedly broke into the main door of the establishment and damaged the neon lighting fixtures, as well, said police.
Later, Huang allegedly told Lee’s tenant that they would be hiring Yakuzas between May 5 and 10, 2002 to have them killed.
Police, who were called to the scene last April 28, arrested the three suspects on charges of burglary, criminal trespass and criminal mischief.
Huang and Tsuchibashi were reportedly intoxicated with alcohol during the incident, police noted. (Marian A. Maraya)
