Thursday, June 03, 2010

Sumo and Gangsters

Japan -- It has been revealed that two stable masters in the Japanese national sport of sumo is accused of providing tickets to members of an organized crime group for prime ringside seats to a major tournament in July 2009, according to yomiuri.co.jp.

The accused stable masters allegedly helped arrange for more than 50 gangsters to get the tickets via a third party. The front-row seats are primarily reserved for sponsors and are not for sale.

Police are reportedly investigating whether the gangsters made any profit from the tickets. A police spokesperson said the gang members may have obtained the ringside tickets so imprisoned members watching sumo on TV could see them.

The revelations came just days after reports that one high ranking sumo wrestler has been blackmailed by former associates of a gang and is allegedly in heavy debt from gambling.

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