The car slowly pulls beside a deserted parking lot. The police officer turns to the woman, asking about the point where “it” happened. She looks up in an incredulous state, struggling to believe that the very people who are supposed to protect her are the same ones who have taken her back to this horrible place — the place that, no matter how hard she tries to forget, is scorched into her memory.
It is here, in this parking lot near the Yokosuka U.S. Navy Base, where “Jane” became a rape victim. Yet, as horrible as the crime was, it is Jane’s efforts to seek help and, later, justice, that has monumentally changed the course of her life.
For the last six years, Jane has been fighting to change the way Japan deals with its rape victims. She has recently broken her media silence and, in the past several months, held numerous press conferences and spoken before crowds of thousands of activists. Yet until Japan’s century-old laws are changed and the support network for victims improves, women like Jane will be forced to watch their attackers walk free while enduring what amounts to a second assault by the criminal justice system.
Much of what happened on April 6, 2002, remains a blur to Jane. The Australia native, in her late 30s, was waiting for her boyfriend in a bar in Yokosuka, near the American military base. The next thing she recalls is snapping out of a daze, in her car, as a man sexually assaulted her. After the brutal assault, the stranger walked off and Jane staggered out of the vehicle looking for help.
But the nightmare was, in a sense, just beginning. Jane’s first move was to report the assault to the office of the Yokosuka Military Police. Because it occurred outside of the base, the Kanagawa prefectural police were called in. When they arrived, Jane was questioned in the base’s front security office before being taken back to the scene of the crime, and eventually to Kanagawa police station for more questioning in a room filled with male officers. Though she repeatedly asked to be taken to a hospital, all her requests were denied. “I was informed that on-duty doctors are for urgent patients — and rape victims are not urgent,” Jane recalls.
Instead of calling for a doctor or a counselor, the officers interrogated Jane for several hours. Unbelievably, they asked her to point out where on her body she was injured. Jane needed to go to the bathroom but didn’t want to destroy any evidence — she was wearing no underwear and still had traces of the rapist’s sperm on her body — so she decided to wait until she could get to the hospital for testing. She also suspects she was drugged, but because the police did not perform any blood tests, she can’t say for sure.
“After the questioning, I was not immediately permitted to get a medical exam, but was instead taken back to the scene of the crime,” she explains. Less than a week later, she was asked to return again to the parking lot to re-enact the exact positions that she was put in for a police photographer. Unable to bring herself to do this, she gave directions to a male and female police officer as they entwined their bodies.
The Kanagawa police found Jane’s attacker that same night. U.S. Navy Serviceman Bloke T Deans, who was in his 30s, was taken to Kanagawa Police Station for questioning and released. For reasons that are still unclear, they declined to file criminal charges. This is hardly uncommon: in 2006, the most recent year for which figures are available, 1,948 rapes were reported in Japan, but only 1,058 perpetrators were arrested.
After the police failed to bring criminal charges against Deans, Jane filed a civil suit against him. But then the affair took another heartbreaking turn. In August 2003, the day before the case was to be heard in the Tokyo District Court, Deans’ lawyer resigned, claiming he was “unable to find” his client. “The U.S. Navy later told me that Deans was discharged from the USS Kitty Hawk in November 2002,” Jane says. “We have been unable to track him down.” In November 2004, Jane won her civil court case against Deans, and was awarded 3 million yen compensation. But three and a half years on, she has yet to receive any of the money. Deans remains a free man.
Unfortunately, Jane’s ordeal is hardly an isolated case. Japan’s official rape figures paint only a small part of a larger, sadder picture. The National Police Agency’s annual report shows the number of reported rapes began rising in 1997. In 2003 that number hit a high of 2,472, and since has slowly decreased.
Only 11% of sexual crimes reported
A 2000 study by the Justice Ministry Research Group, meanwhile, showed that only about 11% of sexual crimes committed in Japan were reported. The Tokyo Rape Crisis Center believes the situation may be even worse. “It has been said that there are 10-20 hidden victims for every one that we know about,” says spokewoman Naomi Tjima. “In Japan, rape is a crime that requires a ‘formal complaint’ by a victim. Many cases end up in the settlement out of court, and rapists go free.”
In 2006, Japan’s Gender Equality Bureau released a study titled “Violence Between Men and Women.” Of the 1,578 female respondents, 7.2% said they had been raped “at least once.” Sixty-seven percent of these rapes were perpetrated by someone the victim “knew well,” and 19% by someone they had “seen before.” Only 5.3% of the victims reported the crime to the police — around 6 people out of 114 cases. Of those who remained silent, nearly 40% said they didn’t step forward because they were “embarrassed.”
A Reuters report from May 2007 sheds further light on the situation. “Activists and lawyers say that sentiment toward rape victims remains chilly in a society where many feel the woman may have led the man on, she is lying, or that she could have fought back,” the article says, and goes on to explain that common “rape myths,” which have long been discounted by experts in other countries, still exist in Japan. “Contrary to the law, there is still a widespread belief that only assaults by strangers can be defined as rape.”
“There is no Rape Shield Law like in the United States and Canada, which protects victims from insensitive questions,” explains Hisako Motoyama, Executive Director of the Asia Japan Women’s Resource Center (AJWRC), a gender equality advocacy group founded in 1977. “Victims may even be asked, ‘Why didn’t you fight harder?’”
Victim asked how many people she had slept with
Facing cultural stigmas and insensitive police, it is little surprise that victims seek help from their friends rather than the law. Jane describes a recent rape trial she attended in Tokyo, during which the plaintiff, who prefers to remain unnamed, was asked questions like “How many people have you slept with?” and “Were you good at sports in school?”
The issue of rape in Japan was brought to light last year at the 38th session of The United Nations Committee Against Torture (CAT) in Geneva. The mission of the 10-person international committee is to monitor compliance with a human rights protocol to which Japan became a signatory in 1999.
After reviewing a report compiled by AJWRC and The World Organization Against Torture called “Violations of Women’s Rights in Japan,” the panel recommended that there should be “better protection and appropriate care for such [Japanese] victims.” They also showed concern that “efforts by officials were too focused on the crime and criminal, while ignoring the victim’s needs in aftermath of the often traumatizing ordeals they have been through.” On March 23, Jane shared her story with 6,000 people in Okinawa at a rally against the American military’s presence in Japan. The gathering was sparked by the February case of 38-year-old American Marine Sgt Tyrone Luther Hadnott, who was accused of raping a local 14-year-old. The charges were dropped when the girl and her family pleaded for privacy.
Indeed, the local support system — especially for foreign women — is woefully inadequate. There are only two rape crisis centers in Japan, located in Tokyo and Okinawa. With limited funding, the Tokyo Rape Crisis Center only accepts calls for three hours, two days a week. Operators speak Japanese only.
Groups like the AJWRC, meanwhile, are fighting for the rights of women. “The current system for dealing with rape victims has fundamental flaws,” says Motoyama. “The criminal law was enacted 100 years ago, and there have been very few changes since.”
In May 2000 the Law for the Protection of Victims of Crime was enacted. This law improved some measures of victim support and protection, as well as allowing rape victims a time frame of ten years to make a formal complaint to the police. Although this was a step in the right direction, there is still a long way to go.
The AJWRC has seen little progress in its three decades of operation, and it has had to endure constant pressure from groups who claim it is destroying family values by raising awareness of gender issues. The center regularly receives threatening calls and emails.
Because of the treatment she received on the night she was raped, Jane filed a lawsuit against the Kanagawa Police Department. Among the evidence she presented were X-rays and medical documents showing that the official police reports contained gross inconsistencies. But in December 2007, the Tokyo District Court — the same court that found Deans guilty — ruled against her. The presiding judge said the police had acted within the law and fulfilled their responsibilities to the victim. Jane is appealing the decision.
“The records, with clear dates and time on them, were deemed ‘unreliable,’ and the statements of the policemen were accepted over the evidence,” Jane says. “By ignoring hard evidence and siding with the police, the court is basically putting a message out there that rape victims aren’t important.”
Six years on, Jane, who is now in her 40s, continues her fight. Her organization, Warriors Japan, is a support group that seeks to establish Japan’s first 24-hour rape crisis center. In March, 6,000 people gathered in Okinawa to hear Jane speak at a rally prompted by the alleged rape of a local 14-year-old girl by a U.S. serviceman.
“I wish I had never called the police that day,” she says. “Filing this claim has not made me feel better. But I feel some validation in knowing that I am making a better path for the rape victims who will, unfortunately, come after me.”
Advice for Victims
*Get immediate medical care and document everything. You will need as much evidence as possible. Jane recommends going to the hospital before the police, as she was not allowed to receive medical attention until after hours of questioning.
*Inform your embassy or consulate. They will often prove to be a great support. If possible, take an embassy officer or friend with you when going to the police to make a complaint.
*Seek guidance from people who have been there. Contact a support group like Warriors Japan (www.myspace.com/warriors_japan) or Lamplighters Japan (www.thelamplighters.org).
Help is at Hand
Asia-Japan Women’s Research Center To learn more about this gender equality advocacy group, see www.ajwrc.org (Japanese and English).
Tokyo English Life Line Call 03-5774-0992 for English support daily 9 a.m.-11 p.m. Or see www.telljp.com for more information.
Tokyo Rape Crisis Center Though English information is available on their website (www.tokyo-rcc.org), counseling services are currently in Japanese only, Wed 6-9 p.m. and Sat 3-6 p.m.
Warriors Japan Jane founded this organization in May 2002 with an aim to create a 24-hour rape crisis center. The support group seeks volunteer advocates, translators and interpreters, as well as sponsors and donations. Email warriors.japan@gmail.com for more information.
This story originally appeared in Metropolis magazine (www.metropolis.co.jp).
© Japan Today
31 Comments
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rjd_jr
Sad to hear her story. Sickening to see how these victims are treated. The Japanese authorities better get with the 21st century, as an advanced industrial nation they lag far behind other countries in treatment of rape victims. Shame on them.
HoDeDo
Of all the rapes that occur in this country JT cites a rape involving the US Military. No wonder the America bashers here on JT never get their posts deleted, they both have the same agenda.
jambon
Shouldn't this headline be "Yankee Go Home!"? This is dual-pronged article, the headliner being glaringly short.
No matter.
Shortly, Japan statistical rate of rapes should be climbing the global ladder. http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_rap_vic-crime-rape-victims http://www.nationmaster.com/graph/cri_rap_percap-crime-rapes-per-capita
Tanuki7
*It's a shame they can't get more support, there are alot of problems with the legal system and rape cases even here in America. The wheels of justice turn very* slowly.
Zer00
Unable to bring herself to do this, she gave directions to a male and female police officer as they entwined their bodies.
Cr@p!!! Thats ridiculous!! Pervs!
Hughgarse
are they serious?? what kind of utter garbage is that??
LFRAgain
No, this article shouldn’t be re-titled “Yankee, Go Home.” That the assailant that raped this woman was American military is purely incidental to the overall message of the story, namely that Japanese laws regarding rape are grossly insensitive and outdated. It should be noted by both of you (jambon & HoDeDo) here that JT did not actively choose to highlight any rape by American military in Japan, but rather recounted “Jane’s” story, in which, coincidentally, the assailant was American military.
Perhaps you would have felt better had the author chosen to keep the nationality of the assailant anonymous, but that would have served no other purpose than to sooth the consciences of a small minority of readers who are more than a little hyper-sensitive to criticism, real or imagined – clearly in this case, imagined. Had a Japanese man raped her, her account of what happened in the aftermath would likely have changed very little.
A suggestion: While you read the article, trying replacing every occurrence of “American” or “military” with something less personally provocative and more pleasing, like cumquat or terrorist, and maybe you can get beyond your petty insecurities and realize the article isn’t about the US military at all, and entirely about a legal system that clearly does not place the welfare of the victim of rapes above police officials’ desire to clear case dockets they apparently consider a nuisance.
DanTheManInJapan
When I read this one, I was actually surprised to see that the focus was NOT on the US military. Does anyone remember her last article on JT?
paolo27th
"The AJWRC has seen little progress in its three decades of operation, and it has had to endure constant pressure from groups who claim it is destroying family values by raising awareness of gender issues."
As if to say "ignorance is bliss". And maybe, just maybe, Jane's story is the topic of this article because she is a member of a rape victims' organisation? Oh no, according to some clever posters she was choosen only because she was raped by a us serviceman...
smithinjapan
LFRagain: Hat's off to you, my friend. No one could have said it better, and you pointed out one of the major problems with a site like this; people with raging insecurities will look for any way to vent them against their imagined 'enemies', and that their time would be better spent dealing with their own problems rather than misdirecting anger.
As to the the story itself, it's such a shame. It's unbelievable that there are only two rape crisis centres in the entire country, and they are open for three hours, twice a week. Unbelievable! A friend of mine was raped last year and she had to endure 14 hours at the local police station with the officers interrogating her and asking her to drop the charges if she would accept money from the man as compensation. To her credit, she kept on fighting and the police finally sighed and agreed to fill out paperwork. The man was never charged or imprisoned, but he did end up losing his job. This country is sick.
curlygene
On the contrary, they celebrate them! I mean, look at all the rape videos available here.
Yep, this, of course, is the same country who's pollies are only just now "eyeing" jail time for pedaphile's who have kiddie porn on their computers. Can we see a pattern here? Hmmm.
Loki520
With very little changes, this is the exact same story that got beat to death a few months back. Only difference at that time was that Jane herself, or someone claiming to be so, was on JT and posting responses as well.
If I remember correctly, this is the 3rd overall time that Jane's story has been posted. And each time, it is "Jane said" or "Jane described", etc.. There is never any OTHER side, apart from Jane's, that is commented on. Probably because the criminal is out of the country, and the cops certainly don't want to cop to this type of behavior after the fact. But a little more in-depth research might make this story larger, therefore more powerful in it's impact with the general populace.
Now, we all KNOW that the Japanese system of law has some serious flaws. We ALL know it. We also all agree that Jane underwent a horrid life-changing event that she may never truly fully recover from. The problem is that Jane is the ONLY one speaking publically about the nightmare she's gone thru, not only the violation, but the attempts to see justice done. She's only one person. She needs help.
To comment on one other comment. This story mentions her assailant as US Military. The other stories spent a bit more focus on that than this one above. The rally she spoke at was one that was against the US military presence in Japan.
LFRAgain is off-base. This is a terrible event. Truly terrible. But this is also being used to push an anti-US Military agenda. She spoke at the rally in Okinawa. The rally was not a cry for revision of the law. It was a rally to express the desire for removal of the US military. Her presence at it CLEARLY shows a "Rape = US Military" agenda being driven. Maybe not by her... but whomever invited her to speak at the rally sure knew what they were doing with that "incidental" appearance.
borscht
Loki
Good points and it would have been a stronger article if 'the other side' were to comment. In this article, though, 'the other side' are the police and the judge. And they won't comment because either a) they are incompetent boobs b) the case is, according to them, 'closed' or c) they don't want to 'embarrass' Jane by revealing any information found during investigations.
viking68
Does it take a foreign person to actually force society to redress these crimes? I could not imagine a Japanese woman having the temerity to address any injustice encountered in Japanese society. What Japanese person asks doctors, politicians, or other government officials questions or to justify or explain their actions?
I hear that socially Japan is 20 years behind the modern world, but stories like this make me believe it will take 80 years to bridge the gap.
the_sicilian
Loki: You have it right. The rally here was against US forces, and the prosecutor dropped the charges. And in the article above, the Okinawa rally was mentioned twice. Why? It had nothing to do with her case, and the 14 year old was not even raped (if she was, the prosecutor would have pressed the issue). The guy should not have been near her, but that's an issue for another day.
I do agree that the majority of the text was about rape in Japan, the fact is the story is another shot at the US presence in Japan.
Addiu
LFRAgain
In a 1,980 word article, less than 30 of those words directly address the US military, its bases, or its members. Of 28 paragraphs, only four specificically outline the relationship the US military had with Jane’s story, a relationship that was tenuous at best. In fact, of all the references made, none, I repeat, none of them offer an indictment of any sort regarding whether the US military should be in Japan or not. All references are pertinent to Jane’s relation of her rape and the subsequent appaling treatment she received in the aftermath from Japanese officials. Fact: The rape happened outside of Yokosuka Base. Fact: The perpetrator was US military personel. Fact: She attended a rally in Okinawa to talk about her experience. Was that rally against US troops in Japan? Yes. Was Jane? Not as far as we can tell from the article. Why? Because that’s not the point of the article. And yet, these 30 words and 4 paragraphs have somehow managed to raise the ire of some here.
To whitewash facts flies in the face of journalistic integrity at its very core, namely self-censoring to appease the fears or complains of a vocal minority. To suggest that the reporting of these facts in conjuction with the relation of Jane’s story, 99% of which is concerned solely with the lack of support for rape victims in Japan, constitutes some sort of crusade against the US miitary in Japan speaks more to the personal agendas, insecurities, and just plain illiteracy of some readers here than to any conspiracy on the part of JT or anyone else to persecute the US military in Japan.
Sadly, in the rush to pursue personal beefs, the most salient information in this article has somehow been missed by the folks who would pity the US miitary and its more than generous living arrangements in the Japanese archipelago.
In 2006, 1,948 rapes were reported in Japan, but only 1,058 perpetrators were arrested. That’s an arrest rate of less than 55%. Not too good for a country that boasts an alleged conviction rate of 99%.
Only about 11% of sexual crimes committed in Japan are reported. It is believed that this is vastly short of the true number, with there being anywhere from 10-20 hidden victims for every one reported.
Of the 1,578 female respondents in a recent survey, 7.2% said they had been raped “at least once.” 67% percent of these rapes were perpetrated by someone the victim “knew well,” and 19% by someone they had “seen before.” Only 5.3% of the victims reported the crime to the police — around 6 people out of 114 cases. Of those who remained silent, nearly 40% said they didn’t step forward because they were “embarrassed.”
And underscoring all of this is a pitiful lack of public will to change things and protect the rights of women living in Japanese society.
None of this seemed to make an impact on some readers. The fact that Japan still looks at rape as something that the woman may have invited upon herself for looking/speaking/acting/dressing the wrong way seems to have been lost of some here. Instead, the only thing you guys could glean from the article was the suggestion of bias against the US military in Japan. Pathetic, guys. Truly, sadly pathetic.
dano2002
It is my understanding that Jane's case was never proven. I am wondering why her story is always considered fact on JT. I frankly don't believe her. Maybe she just wasn't that trust worthy? If you look at the recent cases, the guy was arrested and held even though the charges were dropped.
I think she is just looking for attention.
jambon
This ain't "news."
BlackTieAffair
Jane, Concentrate on the steak and not the peas. I don't think the other crimes are important since the same issues happen in Australia a place where men get drunk and abuse women for sport. Overall, The people and groups around Jane seem to have a clear agenda: to make Jane stand in for all the women who were abused and violated by generations of foreign invaders. I feel that the following quote "If you live in the bar district you will die in the bar district" is rather true. It's virtually a low scale, though still sleazy, environment to socialise after dark. It caters to a mixed clientele of locals, tourists, expats and servicemen. The Yokosuka bar district is not a place where one expects to meet choirboys. The obvious point is that both men and women commit crimes, and lie about being the victims of crime. Justice is never served by mindless crusades. The victim should move on with her life. Even though she will be destroyed by this case, and while she is partly to blame for that herself, the other part of the blame rests squarely on her choice of a poor legal team.
I do agree that everyone has certain needs but a television personality/parent should not be looking for a quick hook up in the base bar district. Rape is a terrible crime. It should be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. But false rape charges are a troublesome reality. At least 10 percent and perhaps as many as 40 percent of all rape charges are lies. The alleged rape victims admitted that they had made the false rape charges for three reasons to create an alibi, to get revenge, to get attention or sympathy. Educated women lie, too....What kind of mother is in a bar outside a military base so late in the evening? I think she just set herself up for failure...poor judgement.
stan08
The address of the man against whom "Jane" won the civil suit is easily found by using white pages for the USA. The first name (unusual), and the middle initial belong to a person in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USa A phone number is included.
LFRAgain
Apparently, it isn't only Japan that still seems to think rape is something a woman brings upon herself. It only took a scant 12 posts before the woman's character and motives were called into question. You're a truly charming bunch here.
cwhite
also depends on what each individual considers rape. Even in other countries the laws can be quite vague. Now what I would like to see is the stats on male rape in Japan.
Loki520
LFR, were you here the other two times this post was made? Some points from the other postings would make interesting reading for you. Then again, it is becoming apparent that whatever JANE says, you'll take for fact. Whatever anybody else says is simply a case of "whitewashing" facts, even if they are in agreement with the story. I understand the need for some people to hear "rape" and insist that nothing else matters. "She was raped, the circumstances, etc, etc, etc... are all 100% irrelevant!" The only problem is that sometimes they ARE relevant.
All I pointed out, and jumping up to my post and rereading it proves it, is that EVEN THOUGH SHE'S LIVED THRU A HORRID EXPERIENCE, she is being used to push an agenda that is DIFFERENT from hers. And in her desire to spread the word, she's allowing it and becoming PART of that agenda as well.
Do you seriously believe that she was invited to a rally in Okinawa in an attempt to voice, much less change, anything about Japanese law? No, she was invited there because her presence INFERRED that 1) Her rape would not have occured if the US military wasn't in Japan, and that 2) The US presence in Japan poses a criminal risk for all residents of Japan.
LFRAgain
Loki520,
I was here and I had read those threads with interest. As for how apparent it is that I am willing to take Jane's word as fact or not, I haven't really leaned one way or the other. What I have been shocked by is how quickly and rabidly some posters on this thread tried to turn an article about providing better support for rape victims into a political bandwagon regarding, of all things, the US military presence in Japan. See my above posts for why I think those efforts are asinine.
As for Jane's credibility, that the accused assailanf, Bloke T Deans, returned to the states and chose not to defend himself in a successful civil suit that ultimately labeled him a rapist lends more credence to Jane’s account of what happened than to any defense he may have proffered, notably of which there was none. If you recall from previous articles on the story, he made no effort to refute the charges and has still yet to, even though Jane is yelling from the highest peaks that Bloke T Deans is a rapist. You’d think that at the very least, he’d want to protect his reputation with a counter suit for defamation of character. But nary a peep from the man. Granted, silence does not guilty a man make, but considering the circumstances, Jane’s story seems infinitely more plausible than one of Deans being falsely accused.
Furthermore, as to whether or not Jane is being used by those with political motives, I can say with confidence that she absolutely is being used. And who isn’t in this day and age? Does that make Jane anti-US forces in Japan? We have no way to determine that from the information in the above article. And why not? Because that isn’t at all what the article is about. Complaints of political agendas with regard to Okinawa and US troops belong to a story about the Okinawans and their relationship with US troops, and NOT an article that is overwhelmingly about changing the way rape victims, ALL rape victims, are treated by Japanese authorities in the investigation stage.
You seem like a reasonable fellow. Can you not see the hypocrisy in posters high-jacking a thread about something as socially pertinent and urgent as providing support for victims of rape with whining about how the poor, poor US military is being badmouthed, much in the same way some claim Jane’s cause was high-jacked by anti-US troop activists?
rtrhead1
LFR, open your eyes. There is no defending your reputation. All it takes is one woman to say you raped her, and it's destroyed. Nothing he does from this point forward will ever erase her accusal. I wouldn't spend tens of thousands of dollars to defend myself knowing that the only thing that would happen is that I have backed up what I already knew (when I say I, that means what I would do if I were in his position, not that I AM him.) Aside from that, it was civil court in Japan! Why even bother with it? And it's not about the poor, poor military. It's about the unforunate US military MEMBER who may not have committed a crime, and yet, has his career and life they know taken away from them because someone has issue with them.
LFRAgain
rtrhead1,
Perhaps you and I value our reputations and lives differently, but I personally would not just roll over in the event of a false accusation of rape, or any crime for that matter. If innocent, I'd fight it tooth and nail. But that's just me.
In the meantime, you're suggesting Deans left the Navy and faded into obscurity because he just didn't feel it was worth clearing his name? Right. That he left the Navy to avoid prosecution under SOFA rules is far more likely. Not saying that's what happened, but it seems more likely than just accepting a false accusation of rape.
rtrhead1
Or, option 2, he left the Navy because like thousands of others, he didn't want to make a career out of it. However, I can see what you are saying. I think it could have went either way. If he were to fight it, he would most likely be in debt for it for a good portion of his life even if he is found to be not guilty. Me personally, I don't know if I would've fought it. Even if found not liable (or whatever it is in civil court) you're still out of the military. In the end, not worth it (to me anyways).
ToughGuyBanker
Cheers to the Japanese police for handling things well. You need to have proof if you're going to accuse someone of a crime. If you don't like the presumption of innocence, move to somewhere like Myanmar.
Loki520
Tough guy has it right. If there was verifiable PROOF, he would have been arrested and prosecuted. All there is is a lot of "jane says"
USNinJapan2
My god, good old Jane the Aussie again? Come on JT, quit beating a dead horse...
NotHere
ToughGuy & Loki
Actually no, article clearly says they denied her immediate medical attention which basically means they didn't even check for any supposed evidence, thats not doing their job, thats being incompetent. There's a reason why someone accusing rape gets medical attention first, one to get a possible sperm sample and it can prove or disprove forced sex.
If they did their job she would have seen a doctor first, got questioned after and during an examination. Results of an examination could have worked for or even against her. Medical attention would have been scientific, science is evidence, evidence is proof (for or against), they got no proof because they didn't even know what the hell they were doing.