Yuki Watanabe, 42, described as a leader of the "Luffy" robbery group that operated from the Philippines, denied parts of his indictment at the first hearing of his lay-judge trial at the Tokyo District Court on Wednesday, the Mainichi Shimbun reported.
Watanabe told the court he only assisted in four cases of robbery resulting in death or robbery. He pleaded not guilty to three robbery counts and denied conspiring with the men who carried them out.
He admitted 12 other charges of fraud and theft as stated in the indictment.
Prosecutors cite chat messages
Watanabe is one of four senior members of the group. Prosecutors told the court that in the case in Komae, Tokyo, in which the only victim died, Watanabe sent a message over social media to the man carrying out the raid.
“You can beat a person with a crowbar.”prosecutors, citing a message they said Watanabe sent, Tokyo District Court
Watanabe described the four cases, including the Komae raid, by saying he "just helped." In the three cases where he denies the charges, he rejected any conspiracy with the men who carried them out.
Third of four leaders to face trial
Watanabe is the third of the four senior members to go on trial. Seiya Fujita, 42, received a life sentence at his first trial and has appealed.
The Supreme Court has finalized a 20-year prison term for Tomonobu Kojima, 48, for aiding and abetting robbery resulting in injury. No date has been set for the trial of the other man described as a leader, Kazuhito Imamura, 42.