Third case this year: US soldier allegedly sexually harassed on Okinawa

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — A U.S. Marine is suspected of sexually assaulting and injuring a woman in Okinawa in June, Okinawa Prefecture said, marking the third such case on the island this year.

Okinawa prefectural police notified the prefectural government on Thursday that they had referred a case involving an unidentified 20-year-old man to the Naha District Prosecutors' Office the same day, a spokeswoman for the prefectural military department said by telephone on Thursday.

The Marine is suspected of having had sexual intercourse without consent, which resulted in injuries, the spokeswoman said. According to a police statement, the Marine is not in Japanese custody, the spokeswoman said.

The spokeswoman said police had not provided any further information on the case.

A spokesman for the public prosecutor's office said by telephone on Thursday that the prosecutor's office intends to publish “something about the case,” but does not know when.

Some government officials in Japan are allowed to speak to the media only on condition of anonymity.

In Japan, the police refer cases of suspected criminal conduct to regional prosecutors, who then decide on charges.

The III Marine Expeditionary Force is working on requests from the Stars and Stripes for more information, 2nd Lt. Kelsey Enlow, a spokeswoman for Marine Corps Installations Pacific, said by phone Thursday.

This case follows the indictment of two U.S. soldiers on charges of sexual assault and attempted sexual assault that came to light this summer and shocked Okinawa.

Senior Airman Brennon RE Washington pleaded not guilty in Naha District Court on July 12 to charges of kidnapping and sexual abuse of a minor in December. Marine Lance Cpl. Jamel Clayton was charged in May with attempted sexual assault of a woman in Yomitan.

These cases led to formal complaints from the prefecture to the U.S. Embassy, ​​the U.S. military and the Japanese government, as well as calls for changes to the Status of Forces Agreement that governs the U.S. military population in Japan.

The prefectural government under Governor Denny Tamaki also complained that it had been kept in the dark about the two charges and other unrelated reports against military personnel who were not charged.

Japanese investigative authorities announced in July that they would begin sharing as much information as possible about criminal cases involving U.S. soldiers with local authorities.

This case is the first under this agreement.

“We believe that the notification was made in accordance (with the agreement),” said the spokeswoman for the Department of Military Affairs.

The commander of U.S. forces in Japan, Lt. Gen. Ricky Rupp, announced in July a “new cooperation forum” with the Japanese and Okinawan governments and members of the community.

In response to the incidents, the Marine Corps has increased screening measures at Okinawa's popular nightspots and tests nearly 100 percent of attendees for alcohol on weekends at all of its bases in Japan.

Rupp, US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel and III MEF Commander Lt. Gen. Roger Turner called for a uniform freedom policy for all US troops in Japan. However, no changes have been announced so far.