A Japanese gangster has been arrested on suspicion of fraud after “cutting off” his finger in an attempt to claim treatment from the country’s national health insurance.
Masahiro Nouchi, believed to be a high-ranking member of the Kodokai, was arrested along with two other senior yakuza associates on Wednesday, local media report.
The leader of the faction, which is linked to one of Japan’s largest gangs, Yamaguchi-gumi, reportedly cut off his finger as part of a ‘yubitsume’ criminal ritual.
In this practice, people cut off their fingers as a gesture of apology for a serious mistake, starting with the left little finger, the Japan Times information.
According to the publication, this is believed to be the first arrest of its kind in the state involving a crooked claim as a result of yubitsume.
Masahiro Nouchi, believed to be a high-ranking member of the Kodokai, was arrested after cutting off his finger in a criminal ‘yubitsume’ ritual (file image)
The yakuza gangster, 58, was arrested on Wednesday on suspicion of fraud after demanding treatment for his injury from Japan’s national health service (pictured: Japan Police Agency).
Like their intricate tattoos, self-dismemberment is considered a “badge of honor” among the yakuza due to the pain tolerance required to carry it out.
Medical care is needed after amputation to prevent a person from contracting infections that can lead to complications.
Nouchi, 58, was subscribed to Japan’s health insurance plan, which pays 70 percent of health care-related costs.
However, the rules do not cover self-inflicted wounds and injuries, according to the Times.
He is currently being investigated by authorities after allegedly failing to pay 45,000 yen (£230) for two hospital stays.
It is currently unclear why the gangster cut his finger on February 23 last year.
It would not be unlikely that most Japanese hospitals would investigate such an incident, and the authorities’ investigation into the gang’s alleged leader suggests a sense of intolerance toward the yakuza. the times information.
In this practice, people cut off their fingers as a gesture of apology for a serious mistake. It is currently unclear why the gangster cut off his finger (File image of a yakuza member looking at the security monitors)
The yakuza are considered a problematic part of daily Japanese life, as gangs previously raked in huge sums of money through various criminal exploits.
However, their gambling, prostitution, drug, real estate development, money lending and debt recovery schemes have diminished in the last ten years thanks to strict new anti-mafia regulations.
The strict nature of these rules coupled with aggressive policing has caused numerous yakuza to leave their crime-ridden lifestyle behind.
In 2010, the number of Japanese gang members numbered 80,900, but has since plummeted by 25,900 over the past decade.
It is not illegal to be a member of the yakuza gang in Japan, however, local government directives put pressure on those who deal with them, from publicly shaming car dealerships, stores and the printers who create their business cards.