The number of sexual assaults by US military personnel in Japan is on the rise, as many offending soldiers receive either no or very light punishments.
According to documents obtained by the Associated Press, American military personnel were involved in more than 1000 sex crimes between 2005 and 2013 in Japan.
“Hundreds of records detailing sex-crime investigations involving US military personnel stationed in Japan show most offenders were not incarcerated, suspects received light punishments after being accused of serious violations, and victims increasingly were wary of cooperating with investigators,” the report says.
It added that the number of sex crimes by US forces is remarkably high on the island of Okinawa, where around half of the 50,000 US forces in Japan are stationed.
Sex crimes against Okinawans have provoked protests against the US military presence there.
The report also shows that the judicial process involving these crime cases is very inconsistent.
The cases are usually reduced to lesser charges and, in nearly two thirds of the cases, the convicts have not been incarcerated. Instead, they have been demoted or received a letter of reprimand.
“Documents show that out of 473 Marines and sailors accused of sex offenses, 179 were given some punishment, and 68 went to prison,” the report says.
DB/HJL/HRB
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