receiver of stolen goods; fence
Legal term for a person who knowingly buys stolen property. In everyday speech, more common words like 盗品買い (とうひんかい) or 盗品等譲受人 (とうひんとうゆずりうけにん) may be used, but 故買者 is the precise legal designation.
He was arrested as a receiver of stolen goods.
Legally, a 故買者 refers to a person who purchased goods knowing they were stolen.
Compound of 故 (ko, 'intentional' or 'knowing') + 買 (bai, 'buying') + 者 (sha, 'person'). The term originates from legal contexts to describe someone who knowingly purchases stolen items.