U.S. Sailor Linked To Murder In Japan

Case Of Slain Taxi Driver Latest In Series Of Crimes Blamed On American Troops In Japan

(AP)  A U.S. sailor sought in the killing of a Japanese taxi driver near an American navy base was taken in for questioning early Saturday, local media reports said.

The 61-year-old victim, Masaaki Takahashi, was found fatally stabbed in his cab Wednesday night in Yokosuka, south of Tokyo, about a half-mile from the U.S. naval base.

The case follows a furor over a series of criminal allegations against U.S. servicemen in Japan, where some 50,000 American troops are based. The outrage prompted U.S. military officials to impose restrictions on servicemen.

A sailor in his 20s - sought by U.S. officials after he was reported missing several weeks ago - was apprehended early Saturday, Kyodo News agency said. The man's credit card was found in the slain driver's car, local media reports said.

No charges have been filed.

Cmdr. David Waterman, spokesman for Commander U.S. Naval Forces Japan, confirmed that navy officials caught "a deserter," but would not say if he was a suspect in the killing. He refused to provide any other details.

Kanagawa prefectural police, where Yokosuka is located, also would not comment on whether they had identified a suspect.

Japanese anger over the U.S. military presence has grown in recent months following an alleged rape in February of a 14-year-old girl by an American serviceman on the southern island of Okinawa, as well as an alleged gang rape of a Japanese woman by U.S. Marine Corps officers in Iwakuni, southern Japan last year. Other alcohol-related incidents have inflamed sentiment.

Both cases were dropped by the Japanese authorities, but the U.S. military is continuing its own investigations of the cases.

Inside Takahashi's cab, investigators discovered about 60,000 yen (about US$600) in cash in a bag and tens of thousands of yen in his pockets, according to local media, which also suspected a payment dispute between the driver and his last passenger may have led to the killing.

[dmd2007]

"I am American (can only imagine how the foreigner can feel) and was screwed by US Marines bad last year. One demolished my house that I rented to him and his family and owes me for rent, another borrowed $1500 and refuses to return and one stationed in Okinawa I married (an annulment is in the process) and before the marriage was even consumated I caught cheating on me with the Asian prostitutes that he was arranging on the dating websites and before I found out he charged my credit card, etc. for about $ 20,000. What else more to say...just be aware of Marines: vandals, thieves, cheaters, liars, rapists..., Betrayed" Posted by dmd2007
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Girl, you need to get into a Women''''s Empowerment Group! Don''''t let yourself be used by others!! It is wonderful to be generous and loving with the right person, just be sure to choose the right person!



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Thank you for your comments---I''ve involved legal system (I have legal documents signed with these Marines) and also Marine Corps Commands were informed, but seems like matters need to involve USMC Commandant Conway and Congressman of NC---just Marine Corps Commands at Camp Leujene are failing to bring these Marines to Justice

[nwarky1]

This is no different than it is anywhere there is a Military Base, People...... Any facility with lots of folks stationed there will occasionally be the center of attention in some sort of crime.... How many US soldiers are stationed in Japan, and how many crimes have been commited per person? Somebody needs another sensation in the news to fill in space, so they are fingering our Military again as the bad guys... Why aren''t you writing about all of the rapes commited in our country by the illegals that are here, or how many little girls are given drugs by some drug dealer, and then raped and put out on the street to sell themselves for their Pimp Daddy.... Why don''t you try to make a sensation about something that really matters?

[hachidori]

My husband & I spent three years in Japan when he was in the Navy. We lived off the base in the Japanese community & had many Japanese friends. My best friends husband is now stationed in Okinawa & she lives off base, and has mostly Japanese friends. The point being that yes, these are bad acts, but there are thousands of military members in Japan & most get along well with the Japanese people. I routinely drove through Japan & strangers would come & talk to me. The truth is that most Japanese people love Americans and are exceptionally hospitable. It is sad that the actions of a few bad-apples are tainting the image of Americans and coming between what is normally a great friendship between two nations.

[barbaraf4]

What did we expect when the military started allowing gang members to enlist in the military? Bush found a way to meet quotas and continue the downward spiral of US image in the world.

[scottyusa]

It seems that by now the navy would have a handle on this. These bozos are out there representing our country and not doing a very good job of it. I suppose by the way the Japanese are acting there are many more crimes committed by our servicemen than there are committed by japanese residents. If not, then they should quit complaining and just prosecute the guilty and be done with it without trying to blame all their woes on us.

[hypnotoad72]

What are our servicemen doing summarily killing people?

How many?

Why, is there provocation prompting US servicemen to respond? (though killing is obviously too extreme a thing to do without a very good reason)

Come on CBS, go for the gold in this story.

[andrew_693]

The japanese need to stop *** around and have that base closed.

[ranger1948]

So many stories about U.S. service members committing crimes. I want to see the evidence before saying whether they are right or wrong. If guilty they should be prosecuted like anyone else.