US Marine Detained in Okinawa Over Murder of Japanese Woman

A U.S. Marine has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman’s body was discovered in a hotel in Okinawa, Japan, according to local officials.

Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the alleged robbery and murder as “brutal and heinous,” urging the United States to enforce stricter discipline among its personnel.

Public broadcaster NHK identified the victim as Anna Yagi, 39, and the suspect as Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, who is stationed at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

“We are actively cooperating with Japanese authorities in response to allegations of serious criminal actions by a Marine,” the Marine Corps said in a statement, extending condolences to the victim’s family.

Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the body was found early Saturday morning in a hotel in Naha, the capital of Okinawa prefecture.

“Such an incident is utterly inexcusable and fills me with strong indignation,” Koizumi wrote on social media, adding that “incidents and accidents involving U.S. military personnel cause significant anxiety to the local community and must never occur.”

The U.S. Embassy in Tokyo said it was fully cooperating with the Japanese government and local police. Japan’s Foreign Ministry summoned U.S. Ambassador George Glass on Sunday to discuss the incident.

Okinawa hosts several U.S. military bases and tens of thousands of American troops.

Okinawa’s governor said the prefecture has repeatedly demanded that the U.S. take action to prevent such incidents, characterizing the alleged crime as a sign of a lack of discipline.

“The fact that this kind of event has happened again leaves us no choice but to conclude that the U.S. military’s efforts in maintaining discipline, educating personnel, and other such measures are completely ineffective,” he said.

Source link