Luxury Bags for Sex Workers… Former “ALSOK” Group Employee Who Stole 135 Million: “How He Spent the Money,” as Told in Court

“ “I don’t care if I get fired or arrested.”

The first hearing for defendant Tsuyoshi Oyama (57 at the time of arrest), a former security guard charged with theft for allegedly stealing approximately 135 million yen from a bank ATM, was held on July 13 at the Tokyo District Court.

“On May 10, ’26, the Tsukiji Police Station of the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department arrested Tsuyoshi Oyama, a former employee of the security company ‘ALSOK’ Group, on suspicion of theft.Oyama, who served as the on-site supervisor for ATM management, would place the stolen cash into a bag he brought with him when no other security guards were present. At the time of his arrest, he stated, ‘I no longer cared about my life,’ and confessed that he used the stolen money for horse racing and to buy gifts for employees at adult entertainment establishments,” said a reporter from the crime desk of a national newspaper.

Appearing in court wearing a black T-shirt and black pants, Mr. Oyama’s eyes lacked vitality and he appeared exhausted. On the other hand, his jet-black hair was striking. When he stood at the witness stand and was asked to confirm his identity, he replied in a soft voice, “I am currently homeless. I am unemployed.”

During the defendant’s questioning that day, he described how the deaths of his parents and dissatisfaction with his job had led him to become self-destructive, causing his desires to spiral out of control.

According to the indictment, between December 26 and 30, ’25, while working as a security guard, Defendant Oyama stole a total of 135 million yen in cash on multiple occasions from an ATM installed at a bank branch in Chuo Ward, Tokyo.When asked by the judge about the charges, he admitted, “There is no mistake.”

According to the opening statement read by the prosecution, defendant Oyama joined a security company in 2001.He resigned in ’19 to care for his parents but began working at a subsidiary of the security company in ’20. In ’24, he lost both parents, whom he had been caring for, in quick succession, and was under stress at work due to a poor relationship with his supervisor. Mr. Oyama, who was single,

“I started to feel like nothing mattered anymore. I was very dissatisfied with my job, and I thought, ‘It doesn’t matter if I get fired or arrested,’”

He reportedly became desperate and decided to steal the money.

At the time of his arrest, approximately 54 million yen was seized from the hotel where Defendant Oyama was staying. The security company has reimbursed the 135 million yen that was stolen, and the approximately 54 million yen that was seized has been returned to the company. The remaining approximately 80 million yen has reportedly not yet been repaid.

Defendant Oyama’s younger sister appeared as a witness. She stated that she had not been in contact with Defendant Oyama prior to the incident and had left the care of their parents entirely to him, expressing regret by saying, “I am deeply remorseful.”

Before the crime, she received a Buddhist altar and her parents’ memorial tablets from the defendant, and although she asked via email, “What on earth is going on?”, she received no reply. She only learned of the incident after the defendant’s arrest; she currently visits him about twice a week and, regarding the future, vowed her support, saying, “I want to do everything in my power to protect him.”

“You finally came.”

Next, the cross-examination of Defendant Oyama began. Regarding his workplace, he stated , “I couldn’t see eye to eye with my new boss and was subjected to psychological harassment, ” adding that his stress had been building up. Furthermore, his mother passed away on December 2, ’24, and his father followed her in death just a few days later. Defendant Oyama said,

“My parents didn’t get along well. Their constant fighting was really hard to bear. I thought, ‘Is this how suddenly a person’s life ends?’ I felt like I had nothing left around me,”

describing her state of mind at the time.

Despite being in that state,

“I sometimes had to handle customer complaints at work. There were times when the amount was off by as little as one yen, and even when I contacted the other party, they wouldn’t resolve the issue,”

He seemed to argue that the succession of such misfortunes and troubles left him plagued by a sense of emptiness, which served as the trigger for the crime. When asked about his life after the crime, he said he spent his days “in a state of gloom, ” moving from one hotel to another out of anxiety over not knowing when he would be arrested. And regarding the moment of his arrest,

“I thought, ‘They’ve finally come for me.’ I felt relieved,”

. The prosecution pointed out that Defendant Oyama used the money he stole to buy luxury brand gifts for two sex workers—10 million yen for one and 20 million yen for the other, for a total of 30 million yen. Defendant Oyama stated,

“At the time, I didn’t care what happened, but I regret causing trouble for so many people. I just spent the money as my desires dictated,”

he said, hanging his head.

The prosecution described the crime as “greedy and selfish” and sought a seven-year prison sentence. When asked by the judge if he had any final remarks,

“I took advantage of my position and caused harm. I apologize for causing trouble to so many people,”

in a tearful voice. Regardless of the reasons, a crime that exploits one’s position and undermines the company’s social trust cannot be forgiven. The verdict will be handed down on August 21.