TOKYO, March 13 (Xinhua) -- A man has been arrested by Tokyo police for allegedly using a counterfeit version of a newly issued banknote, marking the first arrest of its kind involving the new notes since they debuted last July, local media reported Thursday.

The suspect, Mizuki Saito, admitted to using a counterfeit 10,000 yen ( 68 U.S. dollars) note on Feb. 10 to purchase coffee and cigarettes at a convenience store in Tokyo's Shinjuku Ward, Kyodo News reported, citing the police.

A store employee called the police after noticing the note was missing a watermark and its hologram did not reflect light, the report said.

The 27-year-old appears to have produced bills with a home-use printer. Along with the color printer, more than 50 fake 10,000 and 5,000 yen notes were confiscated from his residence, according to the police.

The Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department is also investigating Saito's possible connection to counterfeit new notes used for payment at other convenience stores and in taxis in the capital since February.

Japan issued new 10,000 yen, 5,000 yen and 1,000 yen banknotes in July last year, the first redesign since 2004. The new banknotes incorporate three-dimensional hologram technology to combat counterfeiting, the first use on any country's currency. Enditem

Related

Go to Forum >>0 Comment(s)