Former representative of pachinko association suspected of inflating pachinko machine prices, paying ¥20,000,000 a month for card usage

On the 4th, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department announced the arrest of Tomoharu Koshino (63), a former representative director of the Electronic Authentication System Association (Omiya Ward, Saitama City), on suspicion of violating the General Incorporated Association Act (special breach of trust) for causing approximately 175 million yen in damage to the Electronic Authentication System Council over payments for equipment installed at pachinko parlors. He has not made it clear whether he approves or disapproves.

The Council is a non-profit corporation that aims to make sales data at pachinko parlors transparent. There is a system in place in which pachinko parlors pay the equipment manufacturing company through the council for equipment that manages ball rentals and other matters. The equipment manufacturing company was receiving parts from a parts supplier.

According to the 2nd Investigation Division, Koshino plotted to have the parts supplier create an inflated invoice for the parts for this device, and use the inflated amount for his own profit. It is suspected that the council was forced to pay a total of approximately 175 million yen in excess between April 2022 and February 2023, causing damage because the price for the equipment was higher than it should have been.

A total of 6,500 yen was added to the price of multiple parts for each device, which was for 24,500 devices. It is said that the inflated amount was transferred from the parts supplier to the company run by Koshino as an unsubstantiated ``consultancy fee.''

Discovered due to flashy lifestyle

Suspect Koshino works at a parts supply company...