The Wakayama District Court has sentenced Sudo Saki, the former wife of wealthy individual Nozaki Kosuke, to three years and six months in prison for defrauding a man of approximately 29.8 million yen. Judge Keiko Fukushima, who presided over the case, ruled on September 2, 2024, that Sudo committed fraud by soliciting funds under false pretenses, including for study abroad expenses and damages related to a beauty school incident. The court has decided to deduct 860 days of pretrial detention from the prison term.
Sudo, now 28, was accused of deceiving a 61-year-old man from Sapporo between 2015 and 2016. The charges included obtaining 3 million yen for “damage to equipment at a beauty school,” 15.07 million yen for “preparation funds for studying abroad,” and 11.746 million yen for “damages related to a burnt haircut model.” Despite acknowledging receipt of the funds, Sudo’s defense contended that the victim willingly provided the money under the pretext of a sexual relationship, arguing that the fraud charge did not hold.
Judge Fukushima’s ruling emphasized the credibility of the victim’s claims, highlighting that the victim’s emails and messages indicated genuine belief in the defendant’s false claims. The judge noted that while the victim’s desire for sexual contact with Sudo might have influenced his decisions, it did not negate the deceitful nature of the defendant’s actions. The court acknowledged Sudo’s youth and lack of prior criminal record, resulting in a sentence shorter than the prosecution’s request of four years and six months.
Following the verdict, Sudo remained composed in court, occasionally nodding as the procedures for an appeal were explained. The case reflects a broader issue of exploiting personal relationships for financial gain, underscoring the gravity of such fraudulent schemes.