ID :
28583
Wed, 11/05/2008 - 10:22
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https://oananews.org//node/28583
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Music producer Komuro arrested for fraud
OSAKA, Nov. 4 Kyodo -
Osaka prosecutors Tuesday arrested well-known music producer Tetsuya Komuro on suspicion of defrauding an investor of 500 million yen by concluding a contract for the transfer of copyrights he did not own.
Komuro, 49, is known for a large number of pop music hits since the 1990s but
recently is said to have accumulated huge debts related to business and family
matters.
The special investigative team at the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office
also arrested two senior officials -- Akihiko Hirane, 45, and Takashi Kimura,
56 -- of a Tokyo-based entertainment agency, in which Komuro is involved as a
board member, over the allegation.
''It's no mistake that we, the three, did it together. I have no excuses,''
Komuro was quoted as telling prosecutors. ''I want to apologize to the victim
and I'm ready to have the grace to face a criminal charge.''
Komuro is suspected of pretending he owned the copyrights on 806 tunes and
concluding a 1 billion yen sales contract with the buyer in Hyogo Prefecture in
August 2006, according to prosecutors.
Komuro received 500 million yen in connection with the contract that month,
they said.
Komuro wrote most of the 806 tunes but was not authorized to transfer the
copyrights due to a contract he had with a music publishing firm, according to
them.
Of the 500 million yen, 150 million yen is believed to have been transferred to
Kimura, who assumed Komuro's part of debt payments, and the other 350 million
yen is believed to have been used to return loans, informed sources said.
After facing off in civil lawsuits, Komuro and the investor reached an
agreement in July under which Komuro was to pay the buyer 600 million yen as
settlement money.
But Komuro failed to pay by the appointed day, prompting the buyer to file a
complaint with the prosecutors Office.
Komuro debuted as a member of popular band TM Network in 1984 and contributed
to producing several megahits in the 1990s, including ''Can You Celebrate?'' by
Namie Amuro.
Music label Avex Group Holdings said Tuesday it has decided to suspend sales of
two CDs of Komuro's group, ''globe,'' scheduled for release by the year's end.
==Kyodo
Osaka prosecutors Tuesday arrested well-known music producer Tetsuya Komuro on suspicion of defrauding an investor of 500 million yen by concluding a contract for the transfer of copyrights he did not own.
Komuro, 49, is known for a large number of pop music hits since the 1990s but
recently is said to have accumulated huge debts related to business and family
matters.
The special investigative team at the Osaka District Public Prosecutors Office
also arrested two senior officials -- Akihiko Hirane, 45, and Takashi Kimura,
56 -- of a Tokyo-based entertainment agency, in which Komuro is involved as a
board member, over the allegation.
''It's no mistake that we, the three, did it together. I have no excuses,''
Komuro was quoted as telling prosecutors. ''I want to apologize to the victim
and I'm ready to have the grace to face a criminal charge.''
Komuro is suspected of pretending he owned the copyrights on 806 tunes and
concluding a 1 billion yen sales contract with the buyer in Hyogo Prefecture in
August 2006, according to prosecutors.
Komuro received 500 million yen in connection with the contract that month,
they said.
Komuro wrote most of the 806 tunes but was not authorized to transfer the
copyrights due to a contract he had with a music publishing firm, according to
them.
Of the 500 million yen, 150 million yen is believed to have been transferred to
Kimura, who assumed Komuro's part of debt payments, and the other 350 million
yen is believed to have been used to return loans, informed sources said.
After facing off in civil lawsuits, Komuro and the investor reached an
agreement in July under which Komuro was to pay the buyer 600 million yen as
settlement money.
But Komuro failed to pay by the appointed day, prompting the buyer to file a
complaint with the prosecutors Office.
Komuro debuted as a member of popular band TM Network in 1984 and contributed
to producing several megahits in the 1990s, including ''Can You Celebrate?'' by
Namie Amuro.
Music label Avex Group Holdings said Tuesday it has decided to suspend sales of
two CDs of Komuro's group, ''globe,'' scheduled for release by the year's end.
==Kyodo
