Feb 03 (NHK) - Japanese police have arrested a murder suspect whose life as a fugitive in Thailand ended when a photo of his prominent tattoo was posted on Facebook.
Investigators arrested 74-year-old Shigeharu Shirai on Friday when a plane carrying him from Thailand landed at the Chubu international airport in central Japan.
The former gangster is suspected of conspiring to shoot and kill a senior member of the Yamaguchi Gumi crime syndicate in 2003.
Police had placed him on an international wanted list.
Shirai's whereabouts were unwittingly revealed when a resident in a central Thai province posted the photo.
Thai police arrested him in January on suspicion of staying in the country illegally and other charges.
Shirai is said to be admitting to the murder charge. Japanese police plan to investigate his motive, as well as how he led his life in Thailand.