[Follow-up Report] Discrepancies in Supercar Fraud Trial Involving Aggressive Couple

Chasing the truck with a Ferrari and Lamborghini.

The trial of Takasato Saito (32, arrested at the time) and Chika Saito (30) began on January 8 at the Tokyo District Court. They were charged with fraud after chasing a truck in a Ferrari and Lamborghini, provoking the driver by claiming the vehicle had been damaged by flying bolts, and then taking a photo of the driver’s license. Using this, they created fraudulent credit cards and purchased items like iPhones from electronics stores in Osaka and Tokyo.

According to the indictment, Takasato Saito, his wife Chika Saito, and their acquaintance, Yuki Nomura (30, a temporary worker from Yokohama, Kanagawa), pursued the truck in the leased supercars. They falsely accused the driver of causing damage and then photographed his driver’s license. Based on that, they forged credit cards and purchased products.

A source involved in the investigation revealed, “The couple lived in a tower apartment in Toyosu and led an extravagant lifestyle. However, their funds came from reselling fraudulently obtained iPhones and other items. They forged 71 credit cards for 31 people, with the total damage exceeding 95 million yen.”

Nomura’s and Chika Saito’s first trials were held in November and December, respectively. In court, the systematic nature of the crime and the strange relationship between the Saito couple and Nomura were revealed.

It was disclosed that Takasato Saito and Nomura had been senior-junior in the university’s canoe club. For some reason, Chika Saito contacted Nomura, which led to a reconnection with Takasato, and subsequently, their involvement in the fraud.

“Nomura only received 10-20% of the profits as set by the Saito couple. Takasato and Nomura had a master-servant relationship dating back to university, and it seems Nomura could not refuse their invitation to participate. While relationships typically fade after graduation, now it’s easy to stay connected through social media. Perhaps their past connection continued in an undesirable way,” said a reporter covering the judicial beat for a national paper.

 

Domestic violence and threats from her husband.

The two defendants admitted to the charges. Defendant Nomura stated:

“I had a master-servant relationship with (Takatoshi Saito).”

Defendant Chika Saito tearfully claimed:

“I couldn’t refuse due to my husband’s violence and threats.”

“Chika Saito dressed in luxury brands and lived a flashy lifestyle. Since the couple was thought to be the masterminds, her testimony was surprising. There was much attention on what Takatoshi Saito would say in his initial trial,” said a reporter from a national newspaper.

Takatoshi Saito, who entered the courtroom dressed in gray sweatpants, had messy, half-blackened blonde hair. His left front hair was tied with a rubber band. Having participated in a bodybuilding competition, his robust physique gave off an intimidating presence. Before the hearing, he gave the crowded gallery a sharp glance with a sulky expression.

On this day, it was revealed that Takatoshi Saito had been stealing in the Gold’s Gym locker room. He stole a driver’s license from a locker and forged credit cards. He purchased 13 bottles of expensive whiskey, worth approximately 2.9 million yen, at a liquor store, then resold them to a buying company for about 2.5 million yen.

When the judge asked, “Is there anything wrong with the indictment?” a silence spread in the courtroom. After about 10 seconds, Takatoshi Saito answered, “There’s nothing in particular.”

Then, seemingly determined, he asserted quickly:

“I don’t want the meaning to be misunderstood. I did not conspire with Chika Saito. I had been forcing her into submission through violence and verbal abuse in daily life.”

Regarding his relationship with Nomura, who was said to have a master-servant relationship with him, he said:

“There was no master-servant relationship with Nomura. As far as I’m concerned, he was an unnecessary person. I never gave him any instructions. Nomura came to me saying, ‘I’m in financial trouble, and I want to do this together.’”

He completely denied Nomura’s testimony.

 

Is the husband protecting his wife?

“Nomura was a junior in the canoe club at Saito’s university. Chika Saito contacted Nomura through social media, they reunited, and started committing the crimes. However, it is unclear why Chika Saito reached out. Whether Chika Saito was in a leading role or was submissive could impact the sentencing. Moving forward, the discrepancies and contradictions in the testimonies of the three individuals will likely become the focus” (national newspaper social affairs reporter).

Is Takasato Saito protecting his wife? What did the 10 seconds of silence signify? These will likely be clarified in the future during the trial.