US Marine arrested over murder of woman in Okinawa, Japan

US Marine arrested over murder of woman in Okinawa, Japan

A US Marine has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a woman’s body was discovered in a hotel in Okinawa, Japan, local officials said.

Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi called the crime a “brutal and heinous” robbery and murder. She said she had lodged a strong protest with the US as Okinawa police investigate.

Japan’s public broadcaster NHK identified the victim as Yagi Anna, 39, and the suspect as Devin Jacob Ballard, 20, who is stationed at US Marine Corps Air Station Futenma.

“We are actively cooperating with Japanese authorities, in response to allegations of serious criminal actions by a Marine,” the Marine Corps said on social media, while extending condolences to the victim’s family.

Japanese Defence Minister Shinjiro Koizumi said the woman’s body was found early Saturday morning in a hotel in Naha City, the capital of Okinawa prefecture.

“Such an incident is utterly inexcusable and fills me with strong indignation,” Koizumi wrote on social media, adding that “incidents and accidents involving U.S. military personnel cause significant anxiety to the local community and must never occur”.

The US Embassy in Tokyo said it is fully cooperating with the Japanese government and local police. Japan’s foreign ministry said it summoned US ambassador George Glass to discuss the incident on Sunday.

Okinawa is home to several US military bases and tens of thousands of American troops.

Okinawa Governor Genta Koja said the prefecture has repeatedly demanded that the US take action to prevent such incidents, and said he views the alleged crime as evidence of a lack of discipline.

“The fact that this kind of event has happened again leaves us no choice but to conclude that the U.S. military's efforts in maintaining discipline, educating personnel, and other such measures are completely ineffective,” he said.