An American airman stationed in Japan has pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor in a case that has sparked widespread public outrage.
Brennon Washington, 25, is a member of the United States Air Force at Kadena Air Force Base in Okinawa Prefecture.
He appeared at the Naha District Court today to enter his plea, related to assault charges that are said to have taken place in December.
According to Japanese prosecutors, Washington allegedly approached a girl under the age of 16 in a park in the central part of the main island of Okinawa on Christmas Eve.
A U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcon takes off from Kadena Air Base, Japan, June 3, 2022. Washington is stationed at the base in Okinawa.
General view of Camp Schwab, where Marine First Corporal Jamel Clayton is stationed
Washington is accused of forcing the girl into his car and driving her to his home outside Kadena Air Base, where he sexually assaulted her.
Despite being charged on March 27, the case only came to light on June 25 after it was reported by an Okinawan television station.
The case has sparked widespread outrage in Japanese society, which was further fueled by news that another US serviceman was accused of similar crimes.
On June 28, a media report claimed that U.S. Marine Lance Corporal Jamel Clayton, 21, who was also stationed in the prefecture, was charged on June 17 with attempted rape and wounding a woman in Yomitan Village on May 26.
Okinawa prefectural police defended their decision not to make the two cases public, saying: “We need to pay due attention to preventing secondary victimisation of the victims and protecting their privacy. We are also concerned that this may hinder the investigation.”
The incidents have added to major tensions in Japan-US relations and sparked protests.
In June, the Japanese government lodged a protest at the US Embassy in Tokyo.
Japanese Vice Foreign Minister Masataka Okano met with U.S. 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 outside the U.S. Kadena Air Base, carrying flowers and calling for an end to sexual violence.
Protests in Okinawa against alleged sexual abuse of US soldiers stationed on the island
A female university student told NHK: “I can’t forgive the Japanese and US governments for covering it up for six months.”
Okinawa Governor Denny Tamaki said the allegations left him “speechless and outraged.”
He also stressed the need to “rebuild” the communications system in case of crimes and accidents involving US military personnel.
Following the allegations, the Japanese government has reviewed information-sharing agreements with local governments.
He pledged to notify municipalities of any crimes allegedly committed by US military personnel “without exception,” The Mainichi reported.
The Japanese Foreign Ministry was aware of both incidents but did not provide the information to the Okinawa prefectural government.
The teenager’s case is reminiscent of the rape of a 12-year-old girl by three US soldiers in 1995.
This also sparked large protests against the heavy US troop presence on the island.
This led to an agreement in 1996 between Japan and the US on the closure of a key US air base.
In 2016, a former US base worker was sentenced to life in prison for the rape and murder of a 20-year-old woman.
