The Okinawa Prefectural Government lodged a protest with a senior U.S. Air Force officer on Thursday over a sexual assault allegedly committed by a U.S. airman.
The suspect, 25-year-old Brennon Washington, has been indicted for allegedly kidnapping a girl and engaging in nonconsensual sexual intercourse in December last year.
At the prefectural government office, Takekuni Ikeda, Okinawa's vice governor, told Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans, commander of the U.S. 18th Wing at Kadena Air Base in the prefecture, that the incident was serious and malicious as it trampled on the victim's human rights, and that it cannot be forgiven.
Evans expressed concern and regret over the incident and indicated that the U.S. side will cooperate with the investigation and trial. He did not offer an apology.
Ikeda said he could not help but say that education and management at U.S. bases in the prefecture are inadequate.
He also criticized the U.S. side for failing to provide sufficient information about the case.
The vice governor demanded speedy and effective steps to prevent a similar case, an apology to the victim and compensation as soon as possible for her.
After the meeting with the vice governor, Evans told reporters that the suspect has been granted bail but is being held at the Kadena base.
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