Former Japanese professional tennis player and 1997 French Open mixed doubles champion Rika Hiraki has been arrested in connection with an alleged social media fraud case. According to Kochi Prefectural Police, the 54-year-old is accused of being involved in the alleged fraud of 300,000 yen (approximately ₹1.74 lakh) from a woman. Hiraki has denied the allegations, telling investigators that she has no knowledge of the matter.
Police said the alleged fraud took place between February 15 and May 30, 2022. Investigators allege that Hiraki conspired with unidentified accomplices in a planned social media scam targeting a woman from Kagoshima Prefecture, who was in her 50s at the time.
According to the investigation, the fraudsters posed on social media as an orthopedic surgeon working in France whose wife had died. The victim was allegedly told that the deceased wife’s belongings had been shipped to Japan and that a special customs certificate was required to release them. She was then persuaded to transfer money to cover the purported certificate fee.
Police said the victim transferred 300,000 yen on May 30, 2022, into a bank account registered in Hiraki’s name. Investigators have also obtained ATM CCTV footage that allegedly shows Hiraki withdrawing cash from the account on the same day.
Authorities are now examining whether the same bank account was used to defraud other victims. According to police, several other individuals have reported suffering financial losses after transferring money to the same account.
Rika Hiraki is one of Japan’s best-known former tennis players. She won the 1997 French Open mixed doubles title alongside Indian tennis player Mahesh Bhupathi, making her arrest a high-profile development in Japan’s sporting community.
Police are continuing to examine bank records, digital evidence, social media activity, and the possible involvement of additional suspects. If further evidence emerges during the investigation, more individuals could face legal action.
The investigation remains ongoing. Hiraki has denied all allegations against her, and the final determination of the case will be made by the court after examining the evidence presented during trial.
