Was a Pickpocket Ring Behind It? The Bizarre Courtroom Behavior of a Chinese Defendant

“I came to see the cherry blossoms.”

The trial of Wensheng Tao (57), a Chinese national charged with theft and related offenses for allegedly stealing a wallet from a woman’s handbag aboard a JR Yamanote Line train, was held at the Tokyo District Court on June 4.

According to the indictment, in March of this year Tao allegedly stole a wallet from a woman’s bag while the train was traveling between Shibuya and Ebisu stations.

“Another man was also arrested at the scene alongside Tao. While Tao allegedly removed the wallet from the victim’s bag, the other man acted as a lookout, with each playing a separate role. Over the past several years, pickpockets posing as Chinese tourists have become increasingly active at sightseeing spots across central Tokyo. In May, two Chinese nationals—a man and a woman—were arrested after allegedly stealing a wallet from a tourist’s backpack on Nakamise Street in Asakusa (Taito Ward). Investigators believe Chinese pickpocketing groups are operating behind these crimes,” said an investigative source.

Tao appeared in court wearing a faded khaki T-shirt and navy chinos. Deep wrinkles lined his face, and his thinning hair made him appear older than his actual age. Throughout the proceedings, however, he remained completely expressionless, revealing no emotion whatsoever.

The trial proceeded through an interpreter, beginning with questions from the defense attorney. Asked why he had come to Japan, Tao replied:

“I was sightseeing. I came to see the cherry blossoms.”

When asked about his motive, he stated:

“I acted on impulse. I did something foolish.”

Although he expressed remorse, when questioned further—

“You say it was impulsive, but another man was arrested as well.”

—he flatly denied any planning, insisting:

“I had no accomplice.”

“During subsequent questioning, Tao described a difficult childhood,” said a reporter from a national newspaper’s social affairs desk. “He said he was born into a poor family and spent his childhood herding cattle and doing household chores instead of attending school. As a result, he claims he still cannot read or write.

His income consists of approximately ¥2.4 million a year in rental income from a house he owns in China, plus roughly ¥60,000 a month in government subsidies. Altogether, that amounts to around ¥3.1 million annually—not exactly a wealthy lifestyle. At the same time, however, he also claims to have traveled to Japan four times as a tourist, so it’s difficult to know how much of his account is accurate.”

Asked what he would do if granted bail, Tao responded:

“I’ll buy my own ticket and go home. After what I’ve done, I have no face to remain in Japan. I’m truly sorry.”

He repeatedly apologized throughout his answer.

“Please give me as light a sentence as possible.”

During questioning by the prosecution, Tao continued to give contradictory answers, further raising doubts about his claim that the theft had been spontaneous. Although he insisted he had traveled to Japan alone, prosecutors pointed out that another man appeared to have been acting with him.

“Wasn’t the other man traveling with you?”

Tao replied:

“No.”

Asked again about his motive, he answered vaguely:

“My mind wasn’t working properly. I couldn’t think clearly.”

“At the time of the offense, Tao was carrying a black tote bag, which he allegedly used to cover the victim’s handbag while removing the wallet,” said the reporter quoted earlier. “Objectively speaking, the method appears clearly premeditated. However, when prosecutors asked whether he had brought the tote bag specifically to commit pickpocketing, he calmly replied, ‘No,’ without changing his expression. My impression was that he seemed accustomed to this kind of questioning.”

The presiding judge then questioned Tao about why he had been staying at a massage parlor. Asked why he chose that location, Tao answered:

“Because I can’t read.”

The judge appeared skeptical and followed up:

“If you can’t read, how did you know it was a massage parlor?”

Tao responded:

“There was a sign.”

When the judge asked whether it was actually possible to stay overnight at a massage parlor, Tao gave another puzzling answer:

“If you talk it over, it’s possible.”

Although Tao maintained that he was illiterate, he had also traveled extensively by train through central Tokyo. Asked how he had managed to navigate the railway system so frequently, he explained:

“I ask people for directions. I also have a translation app on my cellphone.”

Finally, when given an opportunity to make a closing statement, Tao pleaded:

“Please give me as light a sentence as possible.”

The prosecution argued that Tao had acted together with the other man and noted that he had made numerous train transfers on the day of the offense, behavior they described as suspicious. Arguing that the crime appeared habitual, prosecutors sought a sentence of one year and six months’ imprisonment.

Throughout the proceedings, Tao’s statements and his actions remained difficult to reconcile. He claimed to be living in financial hardship while repeatedly traveling to Japan as a tourist, and although he insisted he could not read, he nonetheless managed to navigate Tokyo’s railway network with apparent ease.

The court is scheduled to hand down its verdict on June 17.