Foreign Ministry delayed telling Okinawa about U.S. airman's alleged sex crime

A U.S. Air Force serviceman in Okinawa Prefecture was indicted in March for allegedly kidnapping and sexually assaulting a minor in December — a case that the Foreign Ministry did not inform the prefectural governor about until the incident was reported by the media on Tuesday.

Crimes by U.S. military personnel in Okinawa, especially sex crimes, have triggered anti-U.S. military sentiment among local residents, in turn making this a politically and diplomatically sensitive issue.

The Foreign Ministry's delay in informing the Okinawa Prefectural Government could further strain the relationship between the prefecture and Tokyo.

The indictment alleges that Brennon Washington, 25, approached a minor under 16, whom he did not know beforehand, at a park on the afternoon of Dec. 24 and brought her home in his car, despite knowing that she was underage. There, he allegedly sexually abused her, including by kissing and touching her lower body.