Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi told parliament Japan had protested to the United States after a Marine was arrested over the alleged killing of a woman in Naha.
Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi raised the alleged killing of a woman in Okinawa at the opening of a policy speech on Monday, as the case involving a US Marine drew national attention.
Police suspect Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, assigned to the III Marine Expeditionary Force and based at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, of killing Anna Yagi, 39, at a hotel in Naha on Saturday and taking her wallet and backpack. Ballard has denied the allegations, police said, according to Nikkei.
Takaichi said the government had lodged a strong protest with the United States and demanded full cooperation with the investigation, strict discipline for US military personnel and measures to prevent a recurrence. She had used similar language in a statement on Sunday.
The US embassy and the Marine Corps expressed condolences and said they were cooperating with Japanese authorities. The Marines said the suspect was in Japanese custody.
Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki summoned central-government officials on Monday to lodge a protest and said he would travel to Tokyo later in the week to meet Takaichi, the Japan Times reported.
People Sentiments Negative
- Protesters gathered in Naha on Sunday with signs opposing the alleged killing.
- Takaichi called the incident extremely brutal and vicious in her Sunday statement.
- The Marine Corps said it takes the allegations seriously.