TOKYO — A Jap courtroom stated Wednesday it has discovered a U.S. Marine responsible of sexually assaulting a lady on Okinawa, sentencing him to jail phrases, in a case that has induced anger and protection issues on Japan’s southern island, which has a heavy American troop presence.
The Naha District Court docket stated Lance Cpl. Jamel Clayton, 22, of Ohio, was once sentenced Tuesday to seven years in jail within the case.
Clayton was once discovered responsible of attacking the lady in her 20s within the Yomitan village at the primary Okinawa island in Would possibly, 2024, chocking her from in the back of, sexually assaulting her and inflicting her accidents.
In sentencing, Pass judgement on Kazuhiko Obata stated the sufferer’s testimony, supplied remotely and anonymously, was once extremely credible although the defendant denied his fees introduced by means of the prosecutors, who demanded 10 years in jail, consistent with Kyodo Information.
It was once one in all a string of sexual attack circumstances remaining 12 months during which the arrests of the suspects have been first of all withheld by means of native government on grounds of defending the sufferers’ privateness, triggering anger and criticisms of coverups.
Okinawa, the place one of the crucial fiercest battles of Global Battle II was once fought 80 years in the past and underneath U.S. profession till 1972, stays house to nearly all of about 50,000 U.S. troops stationed in Japan underneath a bilateral safety pact. The island, which accounts for handiest 0.6% of Jap land, hosts 70% of U.S. army amenities.
Frustration runs top on Okinawa on account of its persevered burden with the heavy U.S. presence that incorporates noise, air pollution, airplane injuries and crime associated with American troops.
Protection Minister Gen Nakatani, who attended Monday’s eightieth anniversary of the tip of the Struggle of Okinawa, raised issues about contemporary sexual attack circumstances involving U.S. carrier participants when he met with Lt. Gen. Roger Turner, the commander of III Marine Expeditionary Drive, soliciting for self-discipline and preventive measures.
There was rising requires a revision to the Standing of Forces Settlement that provides america the fitting to research maximum injuries and crimes that happen on Jap soil.
Jap Top Minister Shigeru Ishiba ‘s Cupboard on Tuesday followed a observation appearing that the Jap prosecutors dropped felony circumstances in opposition to greater than 300 U.S. carrier participants within the remaining decade between 2014 and 2024, together with a sexual attack case in Okinawa in 2020.
