Japan arrests man suspected of links to alleged scam syndicate Prince Group, media report

TOKYO — Japanese police have arrested a 44-year-old man suspected of being a top executive of Prince Group, a multinational network accused of running vast scam centre operations, local media reported on Monday (June 22), citing police sources.

Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department arrested Hu Shi, a Cypriot national, on June 14 on suspicion of falsifying documents, the Asahi newspaper and broadcaster NHK reported. 

Two others, both Chinese nationals, were also arrested.

Tokyo Metropolitan Police declined to comment.

In an interview with Reuters on April 23, Hu denied being a leader of Prince Group.

Chen Zhi, founder of the conglomerate the US alleges is a front for a multibillion-dollar online fraud and money laundering operation, was deported to China from Cambodia earlier this year.

Authorities across Asia, including in Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong, have also seized assets or detained individuals linked to Prince Group.

In November, Prince Group denied any wrongdoing in a statement issued via a US law firm.

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