PANAJI
The North Goa Police have begun a massive search to apprehend an impersonating cop and some locals, who are accused of assaulting and duping a Japanese tourist to the tune of Rs 10 lakh approx in Goa.
Complainant Tatsuki Teramoto took to social media to reach out to Goa Police with his grievance that a ‘fake policeman’ robbed him of 1,50,000 Yen (Rs 9.23 lakh in Indian currency), credit cards and other valuables from his backpack. His mobile phone (iPhone 11) was also taken away from him.
In his complaint, Teramoto has given a sequence of events that unfolded ever since he landed in Goa during the peak season in December 2022. After being cheated on and assaulted, he was asked to return to Japan. “They made sure I was flying back to Japan. Romy (the suspected accused) and I flew to Bangalore from where he brought the ticket to Mumbai and I bought the ticket for Japan…I am convinced they (accused) were all gurus and criminals,” he said while posting the complaint letter on Twitter from his native country. The tourist visited several places in the North and party clubs along with the suspects until he realised they were alleged criminals.
The North police have registered the complaint and constituted teams to locate the whereabouts of the accused. The police, sources said, will also probe if the gang has targeted other tourists.
The matter comes at a time when the Japanese Consulate issued a travel advisory citing criminal activities in the coastal State.
