Marine questioned in Okinawa rape

[thedrifter]

June 12, 2003 <br />
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Marine questioned in Okinawa rape <br />
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Associated Press <br />
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TOKYO — Japanese authorities are investigating an alleged rape committed by a Marine on the southern island of Okinawa, the...

[thedrifter]

June 13, 2003

Marine admits beating woman, denies rape

Associated Press


A Marine stationed in Okinawa being questioned by local police on suspicion of raping a woman in May admitted he punched the woman in the face in an alley but denied raping her, police sources said Friday.
The 21-year-old lance corporal initially confessed to the main allegations against him during interrogations by the military. But when questioned by police, the Marine said sex with the 19-year-old woman took place by mutual consent, according to the sources.

Police believe the Marine committed the crime after beating and restraining the woman. They plan to seek an arrest warrant on suspicion of rape resulting in injury once they gather evidence to support this, the sources said.

According to police investigations, the Marine allegedly raped the women at around 3:30 a.m. on May 25 in the town of Kin, after they met at a restaurant there.

The U.S. military notified the Japanese police about the incident after a friend of the woman reported it to Camp Hansen, the U.S. military base in the town. But it was not revealed where the serviceman is stationed.

Under the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement, which governs the management and operation of U.S. forces in Japan, the U.S. military is not required to hand over to Japanese police servicemen who are suspects in criminal cases before they are indicted.

But following the rape of a 12-year-old girl by three U.S. servicemen in 1995, the United States agreed to give “sympathetic consideration” to the handover of suspects in serious crimes, such as murder and rape, and in other specific cases.

Under the agreement, the police are expected to ask the U.S. military to hand over the serviceman as soon as the warrant is issued.

A group of opposition party members in the Okinawa prefectural assembly requested the prefectural government on Friday to investigate the case and urged that Marines stationed in the prefecture be reduced in number and eventually withdrawn completely. The Japanese Communist Party also made a similar request to the prefecture.




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Copyright 2003 The Associated Press.


Sempers,

Roger