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Enten controversy

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“Because of the financial crisis, countries will adopt the enten in three years' time. I will start shining and become world famous. I will certainly move the world.”

Kazutsugi Nami talking to the Japanese press.[1]

The 2009 Enten investor fraud was revealed on 5 February 2009 when Kazutsugi Nami (波和二, Nami Kazutsugi), the chairman of Tokyo's bedding supplier Ladies & Gentlemen (L&G), was arrested by Japanese police. Nami and 21 other executives are accused of defrauding 37,000 investors of at least 126 billion yen[2] (approximately US$1.4 billion) over the past eight years.[3] The case involves the invention of a fictional currency, "Enten", which Nami used to fool investors. Some sources put the total amount of the defrauded money as high as 226 billion yen, which would make it the biggest investment scam in Japanese history since Toyota Shoji, an investment group, swindled 202.5 billion yen in the late 1980s.[4]

L&G

Ladies and Gentlemen (L&G) was set up in 1987, originally selling futons and health food,[5] but it began accepting investment money in 2001.[2] The company's established existence tricked many into believing it was stable.[1] A 65-year-old woman who lost 30 million yen (about US$300,000) saved over four decades was quoted as saying: "I thought the company was fine as it was in business for a long time".[1] Another woman, a 70-year-old who blamed herself for the loss of two million yen (about US$20,000), said: "I had fun and a lively life... I was stupid. It's my fault as I was greedy".[1]

Enten

Since 2001 Nami had been issuing special electronic money which he referred to as "Enten" (円天, a combination of the Japanese currency name, yen, and the Japanese word for "Heaven"[3]) to investors who paid at least ¥100,000 (£750, US$1,100). Enten is a virtual currency which Nami expects to become legal tender in a post-recession existence by which time he will have become "world famous".[4] Investors were promised 36% annual returns[1] and there was even an "Enten fair" during which participants sang the praises of Nami's investment plan.[3][1] One woman described the existence of Enten as "wonderful", whilst another said: "It's like a dream, I can buy anything."[1]

"Enten" were generated through his customers' mobile phones and could be used to purchase items online, including vegetables, futons, clothing and jewelry.[3] In February 2007, L&G dividends were distributed in Enten, rather than in cash, which caused many lawsuits and cancellations of accounts.[2] In October 2007 police searched L&G's headquarters in Tokyo, suspecting that the company had violated investment laws.[2] The company declared bankruptcy in November 2007.[2]

Nami denies allegations of any wrongdoing.[3] He had built up a cult-like following amongst his victims,[6] or "shareholders" as they were referred to. Lawyers representing these victims say Nami believed he had a "divine decree" to "eliminate poverty from this world".[3]

Arrest

Nami was said to have been drinking from a tankard of beer when police, followed by reporters, arrested him in a restaurant as he was eating his breakfast close to his office in Tokyo at 5:30 am local time on 4 February 2009. Nami and other company executives were arrested on suspicion of violating the Law for Punishment of Organized Crimes.[2] He professed his innocence as he was led away by the police, accusing them of destroying his business.[7] Arrested before television cameras, Nami insisted: "Time will tell if I'm a conman or a swindler. I'm leading 50,000 people. Can they charge a company this big with fraud?"[4][3] Shortly beforehand, he had been asked on his feelings for those who had lost money to which he replied: "No. I have put my life at stake. Why do I have to apologize? I'm the poorest victim. Nobody lost more than I did. You should be aware that high returns come with a high risk."[4][3]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g "Japanese man arrested over 1.4-bn-dlr investment scam". The Sydney Morning Herald. 5 February 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Bedding company chairman, workers nabbed over massive investment scandal". The Mainichi Daily News. 5 February 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Chairman arrested in Japan 'scam'". BBC News. 5 February 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  4. ^ a b c d McCurry, Justin (5 February 2009). "Arrests made in what could be biggest investment scam in Japanese history". The Guardian. Retrieved 5 February 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
  5. ^ Eijiro Ueno (5 February 2009). "Japanese Police Arrest Bedding Magnate in Suspected Fraud". Bloomberg L.P. Retrieved 5 February 2009.
  6. ^ "Japanese man arrested over 1.4-bn-dlr investment scam". Agence France Presse. Google News. 5 February 2009.
  7. ^ "Police hold 22 over $2bn investor fraud". The Australian. 5 February 2009. Retrieved 5 February 2009. {{cite web}}: Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)

External links

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