A U.S. Marine in his 20s is facing criminal charges including allegedly raping a woman last month in a restroom of an American military base in Japan's Okinawa, investigative sources said Wednesday.
The Okinawa prefectural police referred the case to prosecutors on April 7, the sources said, adding the suspect is also accused of injuring another woman who tried to rescue the victim, who was a resident of Okinawa and a civilian worker at the base.
Japanese police, with cooperation from the U.S. side, launched an investigation at the base and questioned the Marine on a voluntary basis, the sources said.
The suspect was under control of U.S. authorities in line with the bilateral Status of Forces Agreement, which governs the operations of the U.S. military in Japan.
Three U.S. service members have been indicted over as many alleged sexual violence cases since June last year in Okinawa, the southern prefecture that hosts the bulk of American military facilities in the country.
Okinawa Gov. Denny Tamaki, in reaction to the latest sexual assault case, said, "It is very deplorable. We'll strongly urge the U.S. military to take measures that would be effective to prevent a similar incident."
© KYODO
26 Comments
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divinda
And yet, Trump wants Japan to pay the US even more billions to host these guys.
Neurozoo
HERE WE GO ! It’s all been said before, so let’s hear it y’all.
Be sure to follow and leave a minus down below.
Tamarama
Seems like the US forces in Okinawa specialise in this kind of thing.
sakurasuki
Don't be mad folks, it's only "suspected" at at least for now. Give that marine, benefit of the doubt. Despite what will unfold later on.
WA4TKG
Half the reason for this is female visors are allowed in anyone’s room / dormitory on base now days. I was surprised to learn of this, last time I lived there.
It was never allowed decades ago, only for higher ranking individuals.
I would be very interested to know exactly what base and building this occurred in, because it sounds like it didn’t happen in a dormitory
kwatt
Crime is crime. Put him in prison ASAP! before another crime happens.
Rivera
Use the Japan’s excuse he was aroused when he saw her legs or maybe he can’t remember he was drunk
NZ
go home guys.
its over.mission is over.
Wasabi
US go home to your dear leader
Tokyo Guy
Trump is probably waiting for the verdict. If he's guilty he'll be on the next plane back to DC with a lucrative job offer involving women's rights.
changamangaliay
There maybe many more Un reported cases
GuruMick
WA4TKJ....yep , having a young female on base, in someones room would amplify the sense of a power gap, and isolation for the woman.
The story seems to indicate the actual assault took place in a restroom.
Classy,
Sven Asai
Yes, very bad all that, but anyway, no men ever have shouted for gender equality or bringing women into the forces and the installments or premises. If women fight and protest and also want to take part in that special field, in the military, they should already beforehand consider and expect consequences, some to their advantage and some not.
deanzaZZR
"Okinawa resident" Japanese national? The details will tribble out eventually.
BertieWooster
If the US absolutely insist on having their bases here, they should pay ground rent at the same rate as locals would. They are not needed here. Nobody is attacking. The only belligerent force in the area is the USA.
Fighto!
Despicable.
Clearly, the recruitment of these personnel in America is scraping the bottom of the barrel. The bar must be so low that anyone can enter. Their crimes are getting more frequent.
So called "Men" of the US military are an increasing menace in Okinawa.
Nibek32
The Americans need to leave. Okinawa would have so much more potential without the US military there suppressing growth.
Cephus
Rape in all form is cruel and degrading. But having said that, I see no point of keeping recycling old news just to inflame more fire in already delicate volatile situation it's childish and unprofessional.
Yubaru
Does it matter whether or not the alleged victims are Japanese citizens or not? Personally speaking it really shouldn't!
Yubaru
All Japan has to do is ask, and it would happen. They dont, so it wont. Get over it! Folks really need to grow up a face reality.
It's unfortunate that these incidents occur, but even without the military being here, they wouldnt stop, as Japanese commit far more rapes and crime in Okinawa than any military do.
But you give it a pass, because it's Japanese on Japanese crime!
garypen
Or, "stressed from work". That one seems to have moved up to number one.
They should do a top ten ranking of "lame excuses criminals use" on one of those goofy TV shows with panels of "talents" going "ehhhhhhhhhhhhhh" every 12 seconds.
BeerDeliveryGuy
She was not a service member, (not that it matters or makes the crime any more or less despicable) but a civilian worker. Military bases US and Japanese hire many civilian workers such as accountants, environmental compliance monitors, PR, secretarial work, facility management, PX store clerks, range and field management, mess hall staff, and many more.
wallace
All women visiting or on American bases should feel safe and not threatened. Violations of that need a harsh treatment and sentence.
Japan hosts the largest number of American troops and number of bases of all foreign countries.
deanzaZZR
Ask a Japanese person and get back to me on that one.
nandakandamanda
There were two women mentioned above. One ran to the first victim's rescue. It is unclear from the poorly-written paragraph which of the two was a civilian base worker, and resident of Okinawa.
nandakandamanda
Other news sources are reporting that the marine hid in the restroom and attacked a Japanese worker who entered, also causing injury to another woman who tried to help her.
They are also reporting that this is the second one of two alleged rapes on base this year, following one in January by another soldier in his 20s.