In a recent ruling by the Hiroshima District Court, Yuusei Kajiwara, a 30-year-old former employee of Nomura Securities, was sentenced to 18 years in prison, following accusations of attempted murder and robbery. The court's decision came after Kajiwara broke into the home of an elderly female client in her 80s in Hiroshima and stole approximately 8 million yen, further attempting to steal an additional 18 million yen by drugging her. He also set fire to the bedding in her bedroom, although the victim managed to escape unharmed. The severity of Kajiwara's actions was highlighted by the presiding judge, Hiromi Kakutani, who asserted that the act of arson posed a significant risk of death to the victim.

The case unfolded on July 22-24, 2024, during which Kajiwara spiked the woman's drink with a sleeping drug alongside alcohol to facilitate the robbery. His defense argued that the fire was intended to destroy evidence, denying any intent to kill; however, the judge dismissed this defense, emphasizing the inherent danger of his actions. It was noted that Kajiwara was under considerable financial strain due to significant losses from high-risk binary option trading, which motivated him to commit these crimes, thus betraying the trust of the clients he was supposed to protect as a financial advisor.

Nomura Securities responded to the ruling by issuing an apology to the affected clients and everyone involved, acknowledging the serious breach of trust caused by the incident. In light of this event, the company has implemented preventive measures, such as requiring that managers accompany employees when visiting client homes and requesting employees with wealthy clients to disclose any financial difficulties they may be experiencing. The incident has generated significant concern regarding the safety protocols in place for financial advisors and the integrity of client relationships within the industry.