The United States has vowed cooperation with Japan after a US Marine was arrested in a murder and robbery case in Okinawa.
US takes note of incident, vows cooperation
Local reports add that the man has denied the charges. In view of the incident, Japan delivered a strong protest to the US. Based on a statement issued by the Japanese foreign ministry, Deputy Foreign Minister Takehiro Funakoshi delivered the protest to US Ambassador to Japan George Glass.
As per local police, the 20-year-old Marine stationed at Futenma Air Station, has been accused of killing a 39-year-old woman at a hotel in Naha and then stealing her wallet and belongings. NHK added that police then found the 20-year-old man and asked him to accompany them voluntarily to a local police station, where he was arrested.
The minister “delivered a strong protest, stating that he found this incident extremely regrettable, and strongly urged full cooperation with the investigation, as well as strict discipline among U.S. military personnel and measures to prevent a recurrence,” the ministry said in a statement to media. US Ambassador George Glass posted on social media that he had spoken with Japan’s foreign ministry and Okinawa’s governor to offer “our sincere condolences and pledging full cooperation as the investigation continues”.
Citing sources close to the investigation, public broadcaster NHK and other Japanese media outlets have reported that CCTV footage from near the scene showed a foreign man entering a room with a woman and later leaving with her belongings.
