Shaffer
12-12-02, 07:22 AM
TOKYO - The United States said yesterday it would not surrender a U.S. Marine major accused of trying to rape a woman until Japanese authorities issued an indictment.
An Okinawa court issued an arrest warrant for Maj. Michael J. Brown this week, and Japanese authorities formally requested he be turned over. Police said Maj. Brown tried to rape a woman inside a car on the southern island of Okinawa on Nov. 2, but the woman resisted and fled.
"The government of the United States is unable to agree to transfer custody in this case prior to indictment," the U.S. Embassy said in a statement. The Japanese Foreign Ministry issued a statement yesterday calling the U.S. position "extremely regrettable."
An Okinawa court issued an arrest warrant for Maj. Michael J. Brown this week, and Japanese authorities formally requested he be turned over. Police said Maj. Brown tried to rape a woman inside a car on the southern island of Okinawa on Nov. 2, but the woman resisted and fled.
"The government of the United States is unable to agree to transfer custody in this case prior to indictment," the U.S. Embassy said in a statement. The Japanese Foreign Ministry issued a statement yesterday calling the U.S. position "extremely regrettable."