January 31, 2013
Police on January 30 sent a case involving a U.S. sailor to prosecutors on suspicion of sexual molestation of two women in Yokosuka City.
The suspect is a 31-year-old petty officer first class stationed at the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base. He was drunk at the time of the crime on January 4 and admitted to the allegations, according to the police.
Based on a report made by one of the women, police officers at the Yokosuka police station were monitoring the area and the woman identified the man who passed by.
On the same day, Japanese Communist Party House of Councilors member Tamura Tomoko and representatives of the JCP Kanagawa Prefectural Committee made representations to officials of foreign and defense ministries in the Diet building, demanding that the government ministries urge the U.S. forces to offer an apology to victims of crimes committed by U.S. servicemen and take measures to prevent future crimes.
The U.S. military currently imposes a curfew and ban on drinking on all U.S. servicemen in Japan. In Kanagawa, however, five crimes were committed this month by four U.S. sailors, who were all drunk at the time of the crime.
Asked by JCP Yokosuka City Assembly Member Isaka Shinya how the U.S. military has dealt with the suspect, the ministry officials said that they do not know.
“Residents feel more anxious if the suspect still live close to them. Measures should be taken based on citizens’ concerns,” Tamura told to the officials.
Feature Article:
> Crimes by US Servicemen
The suspect is a 31-year-old petty officer first class stationed at the U.S. Yokosuka Naval Base. He was drunk at the time of the crime on January 4 and admitted to the allegations, according to the police.
Based on a report made by one of the women, police officers at the Yokosuka police station were monitoring the area and the woman identified the man who passed by.
On the same day, Japanese Communist Party House of Councilors member Tamura Tomoko and representatives of the JCP Kanagawa Prefectural Committee made representations to officials of foreign and defense ministries in the Diet building, demanding that the government ministries urge the U.S. forces to offer an apology to victims of crimes committed by U.S. servicemen and take measures to prevent future crimes.
The U.S. military currently imposes a curfew and ban on drinking on all U.S. servicemen in Japan. In Kanagawa, however, five crimes were committed this month by four U.S. sailors, who were all drunk at the time of the crime.
Asked by JCP Yokosuka City Assembly Member Isaka Shinya how the U.S. military has dealt with the suspect, the ministry officials said that they do not know.
“Residents feel more anxious if the suspect still live close to them. Measures should be taken based on citizens’ concerns,” Tamura told to the officials.
Feature Article:
> Crimes by US Servicemen
