TOKOROZAWA, Saitama -- Two men have been arrested over the alleged misappropriation of part of about $150,000 mistakenly transferred from a foreign firm instead of the intended payment of some 150,000 yen (currently approx. $964), police announced on Jan. 16.

The suspects are 61-year-old Fujio Sakurai, a resident of Shiki, Saitama Prefecture, and 66-year-old Hiromichi Tsuyukubo from Tokyo's Bunkyo Ward. Both men are accused of computer fraud.

According to the Higashi-Iruma Police Station, an American company accidentally sent 21.18 million yen (about $136,000 at the current rate) to a bank account belonging to Sakurai's company. Of this amount, 17 million yen (about $109,000) was transferred to a bank account associated with Tsuyukubo's company on Sept. 14, 2023, and was allegedly retained unlawfully.

The error reportedly stemmed from a payment the U.S. company intended to make to Sakurai's business. Instead of transferring some 150,000 yen, the company mistakenly sent the equivalent of $150,000. In December 2023, a representative of the U.S. company visited the Higashi-Iruma Police Station to report that Sakurai had refused to return the overpaid funds.

Investigators believe Sakurai asked Tsuyukubo to use the 17 million yen for investments. Both men have reportedly admitted to the charges.

(Japanese original by Shogo Takagi, Tokorozawa Local Bureau)