OKINAWA (TR) – According to an interview with police, two U.S. Marines have been referred to the prosecutor’s workplace for sexually assaulting and assaulting two girls right here final month, studies NHK (Apr. 24).
According to police and different sources, the lads, aged of their 20s, had been referred to prosecutors on April 7. One of them stands accused of sexually assaulting an grownup girl inside a restroom of a U.S. army base final month. The different allegedly assaulted and injured one other girl who tried to assist the primary sufferer.
Police haven’t revealed whether or not the 2 males have admitted to the fees, citing such invformation as being a hindrance to the investigation.
In a separate case, one other Marine, additionally aged in his 20s, was referred to prosecutors on the identical day over the alleged sexual assault of an grownup feminine acquaintance on the primary island of Okinawa in January.
Reporting system
In 2024, a collection of sexual assault circumstances by U.S. troopers had been found to have taken place within the prefecture, however the prefectural authorities was not knowledgeable of the incidents. In response, a reporting system was established through which prefectural police notify the prefecture once they have made an arrest or refer circumstances to prosecutors. This is the fourth time that the prefecture has been knowledgeable of the small print of such an incident.
Regarding the newest incidents, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, George Glass, launched a press release. “We take this very seriously and are fully cooperating with the local authorities and the Japanese government in the investigation,” he stated.
He added, “We deeply cherish the bonds of trust and friendship that have been built over decades with the communities that host our bases. We are determined to do everything we can to prevent anything from damaging those bonds.”
Denny Tamaki, the governor of Okinawa Prefecture, informed reporters on Wednesday, “In a crime prevention patrol conducted on the night of the 18th of this month, which included the participation of the U.S. military, we confirmed that we must cooperate to raise crime prevention awareness. The U.S. side must clearly change its perception. We must pursue what should be pursued rigorously, and we must ask the Japanese government and the U.S. side to what extent they are willing to take responsibility for this situation.”