SINGAPORE – The leader of a Japanese crime syndicate accused of laundering ¥70 billion (S$628.7 million) had a residence in Singapore and was a director of a local software firm, investigations have revealed.
Sotaro Ishikawa, 35, who fled Japan in February amid police investigations, was at the helm of the Rivaton Group, a syndicate of over 40 members. He lived in a Bukit Timah condominium and became a director of Singapore-registered software firm Rivaton in March.
Authorities discovered that other syndicate members also held directorial positions in Singaporean companies. Kosuke Yamada, 39, the group’s second-in-command, was a director at KO Enterprise Next, while Takamasa Ikeda, 38, was linked to Glosal, an advertising company.
Japanese authorities allege the group set up shell companies from 2021 to launder illicit funds from scams and illegal gambling. So far, at least 4,000 accounts and 500 companies have been uncovered in the scheme.
Arrests Across Japan & The Philippines
Ishikawa and Yamada were arrested on July 9 upon returning to Japan from Dubai.
Ikeda was apprehended on Sept 2 at Kansai International Airport.
Hiroyuki Kawasaki, 37, was caught in Manila on Aug 14 before boarding a flight to Singapore.
Shinya Ito, 37, initially fled to Taiwan before being arrested in the Philippines on Sept 9.
Despite their arrests, Ishikawa, Ikeda, Yamada, and Kawasaki still hold valid Singapore employment passes, raising concerns about oversight. The Philippines, lacking an extradition treaty with Japan, is expected to hand over Kawasaki and Ito soon.
