Tokyo police on Thursday secured an arrest warrant for YouTuber GaaSyy, who lost his seat as an Upper House lawmaker the day before, for allegedly intimidating and defaming celebrities in videos he posted on social media.
On Wednesday, the Upper House voted to expel GaaSyy, 51 〞 whose real name is Yoshikazu Higashitani 〞 from parliament for absenteeism after he failed to attend a single Diet session since being elected in July. He then failed to apologize in person, ending his nearly eight-month political career.
In January, investigators raided several locations linked to GaaSyy or a Tokyo company that manages advertising revenue from his videos posted on social media. On Thursday, Tokyo police also secured an arrest warrant for a company owner who edited the controversial videos GaaSyy posted.
Investigators are planning to place him on an wanted list with the International Criminal Police Organization, commonly known as Interpol. It will also ask the Foreign Ministry to instruct GaaSyy to return his passport.
He has been staying in Dubai, expressing fears that he would be arrested if he returns to Japan. Based on the Constitution, lawmakers cannot be arrested while parliament is in session. But since GaaSyy lost his seat, he is no longer granted that right.
※I feel very sorry for not being able to make an impact in the parliament,§ GaaSyy said in an interview Wednesday with FNN. ※But I＊m not willing to apologize for not being able to go in person in the Diet or working from overseas.§
Last year, he started a YouTube channel, posting videos in which he described alleged scandals involving his acquaintances in the entertainment industry. The channel attracted nearly 1.3 million subscribers before it was shut down in July.
His popularity caught the attention of Takashi Tachibana, who was then the leader of the fringe NHK Party, and ran successfully 〞 to the surprise of many 〞 in the Upper House election last year as the party＊s candidate, winning over 287,000 votes.
GaaSyy had run in the election pledging to conduct his political activities from overseas.
Information from Kyodo added
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