Man held over scam tied to journalist slain in Myanmar

Kyodo News
A man was arrested for allegedly trying to extort cash from a reporter after the suspect claimed to have access to video footage taken by journalist Kenji Nagai, who was killed by Myanmar security troops last September, the Metropolitan Police Department said Tuesday.

The man, identified as Maung Win Min Htun, a Myanmar national who lives in Katsushika Ward, Tokyo, had denied the allegation, according to police.

According to the investigation, he contacted the 33-year-old reporter for Tokyo-based APF News Inc., the same service Nagai was working for, in December, saying he could obtain video footage Nagai had taken but he would need money.

After the reporter refused the deal, the suspect allegedly attempted to extort money from the reporter at a Tokyo restaurant Jan. 14. He is quoted as saying he would resort to taking some action unless he was paid around ¥500,000.

The man said he was sounded out by the reporter and he did not try to extort anything from him.