US Marine detained in Japan on murder charges

A 20-year-old US marine serving on Japan's Okinawa Island was detained on suspicion of killing a 39-year-old Japanese woman and stealing her belongings.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi condemned the incident and attempted an official protest in the United States.

According to the Reuters news agency, the police announced that Corporal Devin Jacob Ballard, who was on duty at the Futenma Air Station, was caught on suspicion of killing 39-year-old Anna Yagi and stealing her wallet and backpack in a hotel in the city of Naha on Saturday.

While information was shared in the local media that the woman died by drowning, it was noted that Ballard denied the accusations.

Kyodo agency reported that the suspect was stopped by the police while walking alone in Naha's entertainment district on Saturday night and was detained after questioning.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said in a statement: "It is extremely regrettable that such an extremely brutal and heinous incident occurred."

Takaichi stated that they conveyed a strong protest to the US side and demanded maximum cooperation in the investigation, tightening of military discipline and comprehensive steps to prevent similar tragedies.

According to Japanese public broadcaster NHK, Defense Minister Shinjiro Koizumi stated that the incident was unacceptable and expressed deep anger.

The US Embassy in Tokyo and the US Marine Corps issued a condolence message and announced that they were acting in full cooperation with the Japanese authorities.

In the statement made, III. It was confirmed that the suspect, who was part of the Marine Expeditionary Force, was in the custody of Japanese authorities and emphasized that all personnel were expected to comply with the highest standards of conduct.

According to data compiled by AFP, Okinawa Island, which constitutes only 0.6 percent of Japan's land area, hosts 70 percent of the US military bases and facilities in the country.

The island, which remained under direct American control until 1972 after World War II, continued to be the center of a heavy military presence after the transfer of sovereignty to Japan.

Most of the approximately 18 thousand marines stationed in Japan are serving on the island.

The American presence on the island draws reaction from the island's residents due to plane and helicopter crashes, noise pollution and criminal cases involving soldiers.

The mass sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl by three US soldiers in 1995 sparked mass protests across the island and called into question the 1960 Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA).

The contract between the two countries is at the center of criticism due to its rules such as limiting Japan's primary jurisdiction in the trial of soldiers on duty and not handing over suspects for off-duty crimes off-base until an indictment is prepared.