Osaka Prefectural Police arrest two people, including an 81-year-old man, on suspicion of offering a fraudulent renovation contract to a woman with dementia

On the 9th, the Osaka Prefectural Police's Lifestyle and Economy Division arrested two men, including Hiroaki Somiya (81), a part-time worker from Nishinomiyahara, Yodogawa Ward, Osaka City, on suspicion of quasi-fraud for contracting renovation work to an elderly woman with dementia. Both have admitted the charges.

According to the division, Somiya and his group visited women's homes under the guise of ``Home Care Kansai.'' It is believed that other elderly people with dementia may have been targeted and forced into contracts.

The suspect was arrested on suspicion that in January and February, he entered into a contract with a 90-year-old woman with dementia who lives alone in Yao City, Osaka Prefecture, for gravel and artificial grass for her garden, as well as non-slip surfaces for her stairs, and defrauded her of approximately 1.37 million yen in cash.

The material cost for the gravel and turf was approximately 6,500 yen, but the suspects Somiya and others had charged 250,000 yen. The incident was discovered after an employee of the Regional Comprehensive Support Center, who found the visit suspicious, reported it to Yao Police Station.