US soldier in Okinawa, Japan refuses further police questioning about hit-and-run accident

more images

more images

US soldier in Okinawa questioned about hit-and-run

TOKYO — A U.S. soldier suspected of being involved in a fatal hit-and-run accident in Japan’s southern island of Okinawa has refused further questioning by Japanese police, a U.S. Army officer and Japanese police said Thursday.

The soldier, who has not been charged, has been interviewed three times by prefectural police in relation to the Nov. 7 incident, said Maj. James Crawford, chief of public affairs for the U.S. Army in Japan.

Okinawa police say they have questioned the soldier at least once about the accident, which left 66-year-old Masakazu Hokama dead by the side of the road near an army base. Police are asking the U.S. military to persuade the suspect to come in for questioning again, said Okinawa police spokesman Takashi Shiradou.

“We are cooperating with (Japanese police) and at the same time we’re trying to respect the rights of the individual,” said Crawford.

Prime Minister Yukio Hatoyama has asked for a pre-indictment handover of the suspect to the Japanese authorities for further investigation.

Under the Status of Forces Agreement between the two countries, American servicemen suspected of committing a crime off base can be tried in a Japanese court, although the U.S. isn’t obligated to hand over suspects before indictment.

Many residents in Okinawa, where more than half the 47,000 U.S. troops in Japan are based, have complained about noise, pollution and crime linked to U.S. troops. In 1996, three U.S. servicemen were convicted of raping a 12-year-old Japanese girl.

The hit-and-run incident comes amid new strains in the U.S.-Japan relations over the Hatoyama government’s intention to review the American military presence in the country. Some members of his administration have suggested they would like to see some U.S. bases moved off Okinawa.

Crawford said the soldier in question has refused to meet further with police on the advice of the Japanese attorney he has retained.

Officials from both countries declined to identify the soldier, who works at Torii communication station in Yomitan, Okinawa. Kyodo News agency has said he is a 27-year-old staff sergeant.

Crawford said the soldier, who lived off base, has been required to remain on base until the situation is resolved.