Two Vietnamese Men Re-Arrested Over Attempted Theft of Solar Farm Transmission Cable; About 140 Similar Cases Confirmed in Aichi Prefecture
This article organizes publicly available information into a single account. Where it describes an arrest or an ongoing investigation, that reflects only one stage of criminal procedure and does not mean guilt has been established (the presumption of innocence applies). We will update this article as new information becomes available, including the outcome of prosecution, non-prosecution, or trial. This article is not intended to unfairly disparage any individual, group, nationality, ethnicity, or belief, and aims to provide objective, fact-based information.
Aichi Prefectural Police announced by August 2026 that it had re-arrested Tran Ngoc Van, 27, and Thai Truong Son, 28, both Vietnamese nationals living in Nishio City, on suspicion of attempted theft. According to reports by Tokai TV and TV Aichi, they are accused of breaking through a fence at a solar power facility in Tahara City around 10:30 p.m. on May 3 of that year, cutting transmission cable with cable cutters, and attempting to steal approximately 108 meters of it. A suspicious vehicle parked near the site led to the discovery.
The pair had previously been arrested in July of the prior year, along with one accomplice, on suspicion of stealing approximately 6,700 meters of transmission cable, valued at roughly 14.3 million yen, from a solar power facility in Toyota City. Fingerprints found on the cable cutters left at the Tahara scene were matched to the two men, leading to their involvement being identified. Both have admitted to the allegations. Approximately 140 similar cases targeting solar power facilities have been confirmed across Aichi Prefecture, and police are investigating possible connections.
Current status: The extent of the pair's involvement in the roughly 140 reported cases, and whether the case will be referred for prosecution, remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Other reported metal theft cases targeting solar power facilities include the theft of transmission cable in Himi, Toyama Prefecture (related coverage). Metal theft targeting renewable energy infrastructure continues to be reported in various regions nationwide.
Editorial Perspective
No decision on indictment has been made at this stage, so this article reflects information from the investigative phase. An arrest is only one step in criminal procedure and does not establish guilt (the presumption of innocence). According to National Police Agency and Ministry of Justice statistics, the number of Penal Code cases involving foreign nationals visiting Japan has risen for two consecutive years since 2023, but remains below its mid-2000s peak (related article). A single case does not necessarily reflect the broader statistical trend; further developments are worth watching.