A former yakuza gangster shows off his silicone-made finger for a chopped off finger. “Yubitsume” is a ritual in Japan’s underworld whereby a yakuza amputates a part of their little finger to express a sincere apology for a transgression. - Photo: AFP
A SENIOR member of one of Japan’s most feared “yakuza” underworld gangs has been arrested on suspicion of defrauding the health insurance system after claiming he lost a finger in an industrial accident – only for it later to emerge that he had cut the finger off himself.
Masahiro Nouchi, a 58-year-old member of the Kodo-kai yakuza group, was arrested on October 10 by police in Gifu prefecture, in central Japan, on suspicion of fraud, the Sankei newspaper reported.
Police sources said Nouchi intentionally amputated one of his little fingers on February 23 last year but told doctors at a hospital in Tokyo that he had lost the digit in an industrial accident. Nouchi’s initial treatment cost 40,000 yen (US$268), while follow-up procedures at a hospital in Gifu cost an additional 5,000 yen, all of which was covered by national health insurance.
Media reports have not detailed how Nouchi’s efforts to defraud the health system were uncovered, but his arrest is the first time a gang member has been arrested for trying to cover the costs associated with an act of self-harm.
Yubitsume, which means “finger shortening”, is a ritual in Japan’s underworld whereby a yakuza amputates a part of their little finger to express a sincere apology for a transgression.
Gifu Prefectural Police also added that City of Gifu resident Nouchi was, infact, a high-ranking member of the Yamaguchi-gumi crime syndicate’s Kodokai faction, allegedly cut off his own finger in a yubitsume ritual.
The ritual, now usually only carried out within organized crime syndicates, involves cutting off a finger at the joint, usually starting with the left little finger. It is seen as a way to apologize or atone for a grave mistake.
According to the police, this is believed to be the first such arrest in the country involving a fraudulent health insurance claim due to yubitsume.
Nouchi is a wakagashira, or leader of henchmen, within the Kodokai. He was arrested along with two other senior members in connection with the fraud. Authorities have not disclosed whether the suspects have admitted to the allegations.
The arrest, which was made Thursday, stems from an incident on Feb. 23 last year when Nouchi allegedly cut off his own finger but reported it as an accidental injury to medical personnel in Tokyo.
This would have allowed him to improperly claim benefits under the national health insurance system, which excludes coverage for intentional injuries.
In doing so, Noguchi would have avoided a payment of about ¥40,000 (RM1,150), aside from his personal share of the costs. He was also accused of visiting a medical institution in Gifu Prefecture on March 9 of the same year and evading some ¥5,000 in treatment costs.
Nouchi had been initially arrested on Sept. 18 for using someone else’s electronic toll collection card to fraudulently claim discounts on highway tolls, in violation of laws against computer fraud.
While the media hasn’t revealed how his crafty plan was discovered, it’s clear that Nouchi’s attempt to dodge the system wasn’t exactly foolproof.
However, none of the three men have admitted to the charges, and police are still investigating the transgression that supposedly warranted Nouchi’s self-inflicted punishment. - Agencies
