Sonic the Hedgehog co-creator Yuji Naka could serve two and a half years in prison as part of his insider trading conviction.
Abema time reports that prosecutors handling the case have asked Naka to go to jail for two years and six months in a Tokyo District Court today, as reported Chronicle of video games. Prosecutors also demanded that Naka pay a fine of 2.5 million yen (about $17,900) as well as an additional penalty of 170 million yen (about $1.2 million). Naka’s defense has asked that the fine and jail term be reduced, but a final decision on the matter is not expected until July 7. VGC reports.
Naka, who also directed Balan Wonderworld, was arrested in November in connection with an insider trading investigation involving the reveal of a new Dragon Quest game. Naka was accused of buying 10,000 shares worth 2.8 million yen (about $20,000) in Aiming, the company behind the new mobile game Dragon Quest.
Then, less than a month later, Naka was arrested again on a second insider trading charge, this time involving the now-defunct mobile battle royale, Final Fantasy VII: The First Soldier. Naka reportedly purchased 120,000 shares of Ateam, the game’s developer, for around 144.7 million yen (over $1 million).
Now Naka has been charged and could face more than two and a half years in prison and more than $1 million in fines. A final decision on his charges is expected next month.
[Source: Abema Times via VGC]