US airman pleads not guilty to sexually assaulting a minor in Japan with horrific allegations threatening to cause international incident
A US airman stationed in Japan has pleaded not guilty to abducting and sexually assaulting a minor, in a case that has caused widespread public anger.
Brennon Washington, 25, is a member of the US Air Force at the Kadena base in the Okinawa Prefecture.
He appeared at the Naha District Court today to enter his plea, related to the assault charges that are said to have taken place in December.
According to Japanese prosecutors, Washington is alleged to have approached a girl younger than 16 in the park in the central part of Okinawa's main island on Christmas Eve.
A US F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off at Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 3, 2022. Washington is stationed at the Okinawa base
A general view of Camp Schwab where Marine Lance Corporal Jamel Clayton is stationed
Washington is accused of forcing the girl into his car and taking her to his home outside Kadena Air Base where he sexually assaulted her.
Despite being indicted on March 27, the case only came to light on June 25 after it was reported by an Okinawan TV station.
The case has caused widespread outrage across Japanese society, which was further fuelled when it came to light that another US serviceman was accused of similar crimes.
On June 28, a media report claimed that 21-year-old US Marine lance corporal Jamel Clayton, who was also stationed in the prefecture, was indicted on June 17 for attempted rape and injuring a woman in the village of Yomitan on May 26.
The Okinawa Prefectural Police defended their decision not to publicise the two cases, saying: 'We need to give sufficient consideration to preventing secondary victimisation of the victims and protecting their privacy. We are also concerned that this could hinder the investigation.'
The incidents have added a major strain on relations between Japan and the US and have sparked protests.
In June, the Japanese government lodged a protest at the United States Embassy in Tokyo.
Japan's Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano met the US ambassador to Japan, Rahm Emanuel, to request disciplinary and preventive measures over the two alleged attacks.
On June 28, a crowd of 100 people gathered in front of the US Kadena Air Base, bringing flowers and calling for the eradication of sexual violence.
People in Okinawa protest against the alleged sexual abuse involving US military personnel stationed on the island
A female college student told NHK: 'I can't forgive the Japanese and US governments for hiding it for six months.'
Okinawa's governor, Denny Tamaki, said the allegations made him 'speechless and outraged'.
He also stressed the need to 'reconstruct' the communication system in case of crime and accidents involving US military personnel.
In the wake of the allegations, the Japanese government has reviewed information-sharing arrangements with local governments.
It vowed to notify municipalities of any crimes allegedly committed by U.S. military members 'without exception', The Mainichi reported.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry was aware of the two incidents but did not provide the information to the Okinawa prefectural government.
The case involving the teenager is reminiscent of the rape of a 12-year-old girl by three US service members in 1995.
This also led to large protests against the heavy US troop presence on the island.
It led to a 1996 agreement between Japan and the US on the closure of a key US air station.
In 2016, a former US base worker was sentenced to life in prison for the rape and murder of a 20-year-old woman.'
