Tokyo, Oct. 4 (SANA) Japan lodged a protest with the United States on Sunday after authorities arrested a U.S. Marine suspected of killing and robbing a Japanese woman in Okinawa, Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said.
“It is extremely regrettable that such an incident occurred,” Takaichi said in a statement cited by Reuters.
She said Japan had “strongly protested to the U.S. side” and demanded full cooperation with the investigation, tighter discipline and measures to prevent similar incidents.
The U.S. Embassy and Marine Corps expressed condolences and pledged cooperation with Japanese authorities. The Marine Corps said the suspect, who serves at Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, was in Japanese custody and that such allegations were taken seriously.
Japanese police identified the suspect as 20-year-old U.S. Marine Devin Jacob Ballard. They said he was suspected of killing a Japanese woman at a hotel in Naha, Okinawa’s capital, on Saturday and stealing her wallet and bag.
Most U.S. Marines serving in Japan are stationed on the island of Okinawa.
N.J/ABD
