Japanese con artist faces string of criminal cases

MANILA, Philippines—A string of criminal cases will be filed against the Japanese national who swindled about 50 Filipinas by false promises of marriage and jobs in Japan.

Takihiro Yamashita, 41, is facing charges of human trafficking, rape, illegal recruitment and estafa filed by the Philippine National Police Criminal Investigation and Detection Group.

Yamashita of Komamoto, Japan, won women over with promises of marriage and jobs in Japan in order to get their money. He chose his victims via the popular social networking site Facebook.

Yamashita underwent an inquest proceeding Friday and he did not sign a waiver of detention, said Assistant State Prosecutor Rita Seranilla.

Under the rules, a detained person can demand for a submission of his counter-affidavit to answer the allegations hurled against him if he signs a waiver.

Immigration records also showed that Yamashita has overstayed his visa for nine years.