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

NAHA—Less than a week after joint Japan-U.S. anti-crime patrols started in Okinawa Prefecture, police here on April 23 announced that two U.S. Marine Corps members have been accused of sexual assault.

Okinawa prefectural police said they sent papers on the Marines to the Naha District Public Prosecutors Office on April 7. They did not say if the suspects have admitted to or denied the allegations.

According to police, one of the Marines in his 20s is suspected of sexually assaulting a woman in a restroom at a U.S. military base on the main island of Okinawa in March. The woman was an employee of the base.

The suspect is also believed to have caused a minor injury to another woman after the assault. Police sent papers to prosecutors regarding this injury, too.

The other Marine, also in his 20s, allegedly sexually assaulted a female acquaintance on the main island of Okinawa in January.

The three women each contacted prefectural police. The U.S. military, informed of the incidents, has identified the two service members.

Under the Japan-U.S. Status of Forces Agreement (SOFA), Japan has jurisdiction over U.S. military personnel suspected of committing crimes while off-duty.

However, if the United States detains the suspect, the U.S. military can hold that person until indictment by Japanese prosecutors.

The two Marines are being held by the U.S. side, so Okinawa police are limited to questioning the suspects on a voluntary basis.

A number of sex crimes linked to U.S. military personnel in Okinawa Prefecture were revealed in succession since June last year, reigniting anger within the prefectural government and among the local population.

U.S. Forces Japan in July announced countermeasures to prevent a recurrence, including joint patrols conducted by prefectural police and the U.S. military, which started on April 18.

The U.S. military had also announced it would hold a “forum” to exchange opinions with the Okinawa prefectural government and local residents. But it has not held one yet.

Last year, Okinawa police identified four cases of suspected sexual misconduct by U.S. military personnel, but one case was dropped.

So far this year, three similar allegations have emerged. But one case sent to prosecutors in January was dropped due to insufficient evidence.

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