Novaliches in Quezon City, the Philippines. Photo: Google Maps

A Japanese man allegedly responsible for killing two men for insurance claims was arrested in Quezon City in the Philippines last Friday.

Kenichirou Kobayashi, 61, allegedly hired a hitman to kill two Japanese men, Shinsuke Toba and Tatsuya Nakamura, on October 18, 2014, and September 1, 2015, respectively, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported.

According to police, the two men were shot dead in Las Piñas City. In January 2017, the alleged hitman was identified as Kirby Tan and was arrested in Las Piñas City. An arrest warrant was issued for Kobayashi after Tan told police he was behind the killings.

The Criminal Investigation and Detection Group (CIDG) of the Philippine National Police (PNP) said Koyabashi was also put on the Interpol Blue Notice. On January 22, 2018, the Las Piñas City Regional Trial Court issued an arrest warrant with no bail recommended for Kobayashi.

On Friday evening in Novaliches, Quezon City, Kobayashi was arrested after months of surveillance operations.

Police Lieutenant Colonel Dennis Guttierez, chief of PNP-CIDG Eastern Metro Manila Unit, said Kobayashi, who is allegedly part of a syndicate, recruits Japanese nationals and insures them under a fake company, then puts out orders to have them killed to claim the insurance benefits, GMA News reported.

Kobayashi was brought to the National Capital Region Office of the CIDG.

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