Yakuza mobster ‘cut off his own FINGER and then tried to claim treatment for it on Japan’s healthcare service’
A Japanese gangster has been arrested on suspicion of fraud after cutting off his own finger in an attempt to claim treatment from the country’s national health insurance scheme.
Masahiro Nouchi, believed to be a high-ranking member of the Kodokai, was arrested on Wednesday along with two other senior yakuza associates, local media reported.
The leader of the faction, which has ties to one of Japan’s largest gangs, the Yamaguchi-gumi, reportedly cut off his finger as part of a ‘yubitsume’ crime ritual.
In this practice, people cut off their fingers as an apologetic gesture for a serious mistake, starting with the left little finger, the Japanese times reports.
According to the publication, this would be the first arrest of its kind in the state involving a false claim due to yubitsume.
Masahiro Nouchi, believed to be a high-ranking member of the Kodokai, was arrested after cutting off his own finger during a ‘yubitsume’ crime ritual (file image)
The yakuza gangster, 58, was taken into custody on Wednesday on suspicion of fraud after seeking treatment for his injury from Japan’s National Health Service (Photo: Japan’s Policing Agency)
Like their elaborate tattoos, self-mutilation among the yakuza is considered a “badge of honor” because of the pain tolerance required to endure it.
After the amputation, medical attention is needed to prevent a person from contracting infections that could lead to complications.
Nouchi, 58, was a member of Japanese health insurance, which covers 70 percent of medical costs.
However, the rules do not cover self-inflicted wounds and injuries, according to the Times.
He is now being investigated by authorities after he allegedly skipped paying ¥45,000 (£230) for two hospital stays.
It is currently unclear why the gangster cut off his finger on February 23 last year.
It is not unlikely that most Japanese hospitals would investigate such an incident, and the authorities’ investigation into the reported gang leader suggests a sense of intolerance towards the yakuza. the Times reports.
This practice involves cutting off people’s fingers as an apologetic gesture for a serious mistake. It is currently unclear why the gangster cut off his finger (file image of a yakuza member looking at security monitors)
The yakuza are considered a troublesome part of Japanese daily life, with gangs previously raking in huge sums of money through various criminal activities.
However, their gambling, prostitution, drugs, real estate development, money lending and debt collection programs have declined over the past decade thanks to new, strict anti-mafia regulations.
The strict nature of these rules, in addition to aggressive policing, has driven countless yakuza to leave their crime-ridden lifestyles behind.
In 2010, the number of Japanese gang members stood at 80,900, but since then the number has plummeted by 25,900 in the past decade.
It is not illegal to be a member of the yakuza gang in Japan, but local government guidelines put pressure on those who deal with them, from publicly shaming car dealers and shops to the printers who make their business cards.