Photo/Illutration The Okinawa prefectural police department in Naha (Asahi Shimbun file photo)

NAHA—Police informed the Okinawa prefectural government on Sept. 5 about a sexual assault case sent to prosecutors that day, the first such notification under a revised communication policy concerning sex crimes involving U.S. service members.

A U.S. Marine in his 20s, stationed in Okinawa Prefecture, is suspected of sexually assaulting a woman in the prefecture in June, sources said.

His case was sent to prosecutors specifically on suspicion of nonconsensual sex resulting in injuries.

The suspect is in U.S. custody, according to the prefectural government.

The communication policy was changed after an uproar erupted in June, when it was learned that prefectural police and the central government had not informed the Okinawa prefectural government about two sex crimes involving U.S. military personnel, even after the suspects were indicted.

Prefectural police also did not disclose the cases to the media, citing the privacy of the victims.

In July, Okinawa police agreed to promptly notify the prefectural government when they arrest U.S. military personnel or send them to prosecutors on suspicion of committing sex crimes.

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