Fourteen Cambodian and Vietnamese Nationals Referred to Prosecutors Over Theft of 22 Tons of Copper Cable From Seven Solar Plants
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.
Okayama Prefectural Police announced by October 8, 2026 that they had arrested and referred to prosecutors 14 men on suspicion of theft and related offenses — 12 Cambodian nationals and two Vietnamese nationals, all in their 20s and 30s and of no fixed address — and had concluded the investigation by sending the results to the Kurashiki branch of the Okayama District Public Prosecutors Office. According to Kyodo News and other outlets, the 14 are accused of cutting and stealing a combined 22 tons of electrical cable, worth roughly 23 million yen, from seven solar power facilities in Okayama, Shimane and Hiroshima prefectures. The group's leader is identified as Hong Seiha, 32, a Cambodian national.
Police believe the group sold the stolen copper cable. They had also been investigating suspicions that the group repeatedly committed theft and attempted theft in four other prefectures, including Nagano and Shizuoka, stealing roughly 8.5 tons of electrical cable and other items.
Current status: The 14 suspects' residency status, whether they have admitted to the allegations, where the stolen metal was sold, and the outlook for trial all remain unclear as of this writing. This article will be updated as further details emerge.
Thefts of copper cable targeting solar power facilities have occurred repeatedly across Japan, and this site has reported on several such cases. Related coverage
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.