US Marine arrested for alleged robbery-murder in Okinawa | NHK WORLD-JAPAN News

Police in Okinawa, southwestern Japan, have arrested a US Marine stationed in the prefecture on suspicion of killing and robbing a local woman. The police say the woman died from suffocation.

The suspect is 20-year-old Devin Jacob Ballard, who is stationed at US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

He allegedly killed Yagi Anna, a 39-year-old Naha resident, at a hotel in the city some time between around 2 a.m. and 4 a.m. on Saturday. He is also suspected of stealing her wallet and other belongings.

Police say a detailed investigation of the victim's body found that she died from suffocation caused by pressure on the neck.

Security camera footage shows a person entering a hotel room with a woman and later leaving with items. The hair and tattoos of the person in the footage reportedly resemble those of Ballard.

The Japan-US Status of Forces Agreement stipulates that US authorities have the primary right to exercise jurisdiction over offenses committed by US military personnel while on official duty.

The agreement also states that in the case of offenses committed off-duty, if suspects are in the hands of the United States, they will remain in US custody until they are indicted by the Japanese side.

Ballard was found by police late Saturday night in an entertainment district in Okinawa City, about 18 kilometers away from the hotel. They arrested him as his case is unrelated to official US military duty.

Police say the suspect has denied the allegations, saying he did "not know."

Japan has lodged a protest with the United States following the arrest of a US Marine stationed in Okinawa on suspicion of robbery-murder.

Vice-Minister for Foreign Affairs Funakoshi Takehiro expressed his extreme regret and lodged a strong protest during a phone call to US Ambassador to Japan George Glass on Sunday morning.

Funakoshi strongly demanded full cooperation in the investigation and the tightening of discipline by the US military.

In response, Glass expressed deep regret and said his country will fully cooperate with the Japanese authorities' investigation and do everything it can to prevent a recurrence.

Japan's Prime Minister Takaichi Sanae says the Japanese government has lodged a strong protest with the United States following the arrest of a US Marine stationed in Okinawa on suspicion of robbery and murder of a local woman.

Takaichi wrote on social media on Sunday that the occurrence of such an extremely brutal and heinous incident is extremely regrettable.

She also wrote that the government strongly demanded full US cooperation with the investigation, tightening of discipline among US military personnel, and thorough measures to prevent a recurrence of incidents and accidents.

She pledged that the government will do all it can on the matter.

Japan's defense minister also said his ministry has lodged a strong protest with the US side.

Koizumi Shinjiro told reporters in Kanagawa Prefecture on Sunday that he feels indignation, calling the incident outrageous.

He said the defense ministry has requested the US to educate its military personnel and respond swiftly and appropriately to the victim's family.

The minister said incidents and accidents involving US military personnel are cause for serious concern among local residents and must not be allowed to happen.

Koizumi said that the ministry will use various occasions to urge the US to work hard to prevent a recurrence.

The US Embassy in Japan says the United States is communicating and cooperating with the Japanese side, following the arrest of a US Marine in Okinawa on suspicion of robbing and murdering a local woman. The embassy posted a comment in English and Japanese on social media on Sunday.

The embassy said, "We are aware that a US service member is in custody," and expressed "sincere condolences" to the victim's family.

It went on to say, "As an investigation is underway to determine the facts of the case, the United States is communicating and cooperating with the Government of Japan and local authorities."

US Ambassador to Japan George Glass also posted on social media that he had spoken with Japan's Foreign Ministry and Okinawa Governor Koja Genta on Sunday morning.

He said he offered his "sincere condolences" and pledged "full cooperation as the investigation continues."