U.S. Ambassador to Japan Thomas Schieffer apologized to the Japanese side Wednesday over a U.S. Marine's alleged raping of a minor girl in southern Japan's Okinawa Prefecture.
During a meeting with Okinawa Governor Hirokazu Nakaima at the local government building in the capital of Naha, Schieffer expressed his deep sorry over the incident and sincere sympathy to the victim and people concerned, according to Japanese media.
The ambassador, who delivered a letter of apology to the victim and her family members, promised full cooperation with the Japanese side to thoroughly investigate the incident.
Meanwhile, Richard Zilmer, the U.S. forces' top commander in Okinawa, promised to make full efforts for new measures to prevent such crimes from happening again.
During a meeting with senior officials from the Japanese Foreign Ministry, Zilmer said he will order his underling officials to reconstitute moral education projects.
Tyrone Hadnott, a 38-year-old staff sergeant belonging to the Camp Courtney base, was arrested Monday on suspicion of raping a 14-year-old local girl on Sunday night.
Hadnott was sent to prosecutors earlier Tuesday. He admitted touching the girl's body, but denied the charge of raping.
The incident has aroused widespread protest throughout Okinawa.
Source: Xinhua/Agencies
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