OKINAWA (TR) – According to an interview with police, two U.S. Marines have been referred to the prosecutor’s office for sexually assaulting and assaulting two women here last month.
The same sources said a third marine has been accused in another case of alleged sexual assault in January, reports NHK (Apr. 24).
According to police and other sources, the men, aged in their 20s, were referred to prosecutors on April 7. One of them stands accused of sexually assaulting an adult woman inside a restroom of a U.S. military base last month. The other allegedly assaulted and injured another woman who tried to help the first victim.
Police have not revealed whether the two men have admitted to the charges, citing such invformation as being a hindrance to the investigation.
In a separate case, another Marine, also aged in his 20s, was referred to prosecutors on the same day over the alleged sexual assault of an adult female acquaintance on the main island of Okinawa in January.
Reporting system
In 2024, a series of sexual assault cases by U.S. soldiers were discovered to have taken place in the prefecture, but the prefectural government was not informed of the incidents. In response, a reporting system was established in which prefectural police notify the prefecture when they have made an arrest or refer cases to prosecutors. This is the fourth time that the prefecture has been informed of the details of such an incident.
Regarding the latest incidents, U.S. Ambassador to Japan, George Glass, released a statement. “We take this very seriously and are fully cooperating with the local authorities and the Japanese government in the investigation,” he said.
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, told 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.”
