Chinese student arrested over Ikebukuro ¥8 million robbery
AM730 · 2 SOURCES1 day ago4 MIN
Summary
Tokyo police have disclosed the arrest of a 22-year-old Chinese student in connection with a June street robbery in Ikebukuro, where a Chinese woman was attacked and lost a bag containing about ¥8 million in cash. The suspect was identified as Du Penghao (杜鵬昊), and prosecutors in Tokyo had already filed charges against him on September 2. Investigators said the attack happened on the night of June 10, when two assailants sprayed the victim with pepper spray or suspected tear gas and seized her bag. Police are still trying to establish the identity of the second suspect, who has already fled Japan.
Key Points
- The robbery took place on June 10 at about 8:30pm on a street in Ikebukuro, Tokyo, targeting a Chinese woman in her 60s
- Police said two attackers assaulted the victim, sprayed her with pepper spray or suspected tear gas, and stole a bag holding about ¥8 million.
- Tokyo police arrested 22-year-old Chinese student Du Penghao in Tama, Tokyo, and said he was one of the two attackers
- According to on.cc, police arrested the student on August 12 on suspicion of robbery causing injury, before the case was formally prosecuted
- Investigators believe someone knew in advance that the victim was carrying a large amount of cash and directed the suspects to carry out the attack.
Why It Matters
For Hong Kong readers who travel, study or do business in Japan, the case is a reminder that carrying large amounts of cash can create a serious personal security risk. It also points to the difficulty of cross-border enforcement once a suspect leaves Japan, even after one alleged attacker has been arrested and charged.