Two South Korean men who attempted to steal a large sum of cash from a Chinese national on a street in Tokyo eight years ago and fled to South Korea have been extradited to Japan under the extradition treaty and arrested by police.

According to Kyodo News and other reports, the Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department arrested two South Korean men in their 20s and 30s on charges of attempted robbery for trying to steal cash from a Chinese man in his 30s on a street in Taito Ward, Tokyo, in November 2018.

They are accused of spraying tear gas at a Chinese man who was an affiliate of a precious metals purchasing business on a road in Matsugaya, Taito Ward, on the afternoon of November 12, 2018, in an attempt to rob him of approximately 47 million yen, or about 420 million won.

When the victim strongly resisted at the time, the suspects failed to steal the cash and fled the scene.

The suspects left for South Korea immediately after the crime, but at the request of Japanese police, a notice was issued by the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), and their custody was transferred by South Korean authorities on the 15th in accordance with the South Korea-Japan Extradition Treaty.

According to police, a total of five South Korean men, including the two suspects, are believed to have been at the crime scene at the time.

Two of the accomplices have already been arrested and convicted of attempted robbery and other charges, while the remaining one is on an international wanted list and police are tracking their whereabouts.

According to police investigations, the suspects have reportedly exercised their right to remain silent or denied the charges, stating that they "did not commit the robbery."
(Photo: Yonhap News)