PORVORIM
North Goa police have arrested three persons from a gang on charges of cheating and robbing a Japanese tourist during his holiday in the State.
Addressing media persons in Porvorim, North Goa SP Nidhin Valsan said a Japanese tourist, Tatsuki Teramoto, had filed a complaint with the Goa Police on February 13, stating a gang posing as cops had robbed him of his credit and debit cards, mobile phone as well as Indian and Japanese currency during his vacation in the State on December 28, 2022.
“Anjuna Police registered this complaint on February 18 and three teams were dispatched to Kochi, Chennai and Jaipur.
“It was possible to trace the culprits, Wasim Khan, Chand Babu and Tahir Unis, because of photos shared by the complainant,” acknowledged SP Valsan.
According to SP Valsan, two persons, Raju and Romi, befriended the complainant Teramoto, who was provided accommodation in an apartment.
On December 28, 2022, they created a false drama that the police had come to arrest them. They took credit and debit cards as well as cash from the complainant on the pretext of paying the cops. Later, they purchased a ticket for the complaint and dispatched him to Japan.
On realising that he had been robbed and cheated, Teramoto filed a complaint online and shared photographs of the accused.
The police formed three teams and managed to trace the three accused.
“Five to six people are involved in this crime. A search is in progress to trace the remaining culprits. The accused used debit and credit cards for transactions, causing a loss of over Rs 9 lakh to the complainant, Tatsuki Teramoto,” said SP Valsan.
To a query from the media, SP Valsan mentioned that no Goan is involved in the case.
“Criminals from outside Goa come here especially during the tourist season, commit the crime and flee to their states. Ever since, the State government has announced zero tolerance to drugs, the police have intensified its campaign and has been arresting the drug peddlers.”
“In Goa, drugs come from other states and are being sold by the retailers. Synthetic drugs are being sold by foreign nationals and drugs like Ganja etc are retailed by Indians,” said SP Valsan.
