Edition: U.S. / Global

Racketeer Acknowledges Extortion Scheme

Published: December 2, 1997


Prosecutors said Mr. Koike received about $5.42 million from the brokerage firms in exchange for assurances that their shareholders' meetings would go smoothly. He also admitted to receiving $93 million in illegal loans from Dai-Ichi Kangyo.

Mr. Koike, 54, is known as a sokaiya who threatens to disrupt companies' annual meetings, unless paid off.