Ex-MUFG Banker in Theft Case Used Foreign Dealers To Win Big On Trading

A former MUFG Bank employee, Yukari Imamura, has reportedly admitted to using stolen funds to engage in speculative foreign exchange margin trading (FX), leading to losses of approximately 1 billion yen (around $6.44 million), Ryo Endo reported for Mainichi Japan.

The case took a darker turn when Imamura, acting as branch manager at MUFG’s Nerima branch, allegedly stole 20 kilograms of gold bars worth 260 million yen ($1.68 million) from customer safe deposit boxes in September 2024. I Photo: Yuya Tamai Flickr

Investigators revealed that Imamura, 46, relied on overseas brokers offering extreme leverage ratios—sometimes thousands of times the initial margin—far exceeding Japan’s legal cap of 25 times.

While such high-leverage trades can amplify profits, they come with significant risks that resulted in Imamura’s financial ruin.

Imamura’s troubles began over 15 years ago due to excessive spending on horse race betting and other activities, accruing debts of 7 million yen ($45,000). She declared bankruptcy in 2013 but continued FX trading, compounding her losses through high-risk transactions.

The case took a darker turn when Imamura, acting as branch manager at MUFG’s Nerima branch, allegedly stole 20 kilograms of gold bars worth 260 million yen ($1.68 million) from customer safe deposit boxes in September 2024.

Authorities estimate the total value of cash and gold stolen exceeds 1.7 billion yen ($10.94 million).