Female Fraud Convict Resembling Actress Haru Pays Compensation to Victims

There has been a major development in the case in which nearly 300 million yen was defrauded.

On December 11, the Fukuoka District Public Prosecutors Office announced that approximately 198 million yen in relief funds would be provided to the victims of the case involving former Neyagawa City, Osaka Council member and convict Mika Yoshiba (45) and others. This utilized a system that distributes criminal proceeds collected from perpetrators of fraud and other crimes as victim compensation payments.

“Yoshiba was sentenced to 10 years in prison in October 2024 for fraud and other charges, after taking advantage of loan programs intended for organizations whose operations suffered due to COVID-19. Yoshiba and four other men and women were arrested by the Fukuoka Prefectural Police in August 2022. They are alleged to have fraudulently obtained nearly 300 million yen through false explanations.

Yoshiba and her accomplices approached multiple organizations, including hospitals in Fukuoka Prefecture, with false proposals, saying things like: ‘There is a special way to obtain this loan. You won’t have to repay it, and there will be no civil liability, so please pay half of the loan amount.’ In reality, repayment was required. They also held seminars in various locations and appeared to repeat similar offenses,” said a national newspaper social affairs reporter.

Since the case came to light, FRIDAY Digital has been reporting in detail on Yoshiba. Known as a troublemaking council member even during her time in office, we now aim to reveal the real face of her story.

Her lawmaker badge was attached to her phone strap

“I’m often told I resemble the actress Haru,”

Mika Yoshiba reportedly often told those around her.

Arrested on suspicion of fraud and other charges, Yoshiba denied the allegations to police, saying, “I didn’t receive a single yen” and “I was just caught up in it.” However, she had been known as a troublemaking council member since her first election to Neyagawa City Council in 2007.

“To raise political funds, she even released a photo book called Mika Yoshiba. There were no swimsuit photos, but the content was as beautifully produced as an actress’s work. The 500 copies, priced at 1,000 yen each, sold out immediately, prompting a reprint.

She also ran an event management company in Tokyo and seemed quite well-off. She would often arrive at the council in a yellow Mercedes-Benz. Apparently out of personal preference, she attached her council badge not to her chest but as a flashy decoration on her phone strap,” said a Neyagawa City Council source.

An acquaintance of Yoshiba added:

“She was doted on by a president in the food industry who has since passed away. She attended various events in Tokyo and Osaka with him. She even had connections with top talent agencies. At the president’s birthday parties, she would take the microphone and offer congratulatory words.”

Yoshiba also displayed unusual behavior in court.

“When asked by the judge to state her opinion, she loudly declared, ‘I contest all the charges! I did not commit fraud!’ Presumably to assert her innocence. She wore an all-white suit, her battle outfit. When asked her occupation by the judge, she proudly replied, ‘I am a city council member!’ which left a strong impression,” said a national judicial reporter.

From living a flashy lifestyle, Yoshiba has now shifted to days of atonement in prison. Applications for the relief payment mentioned at the beginning are open until February 9, 2026.