Yomitan residents want soldier accused of hit-and-run turned over

[unhappycamper]

Yomitan residents want soldier accused of hit-and-run turned over
By Chiyomi Sumida, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Wednesday, December 16, 2009

CAMP FOSTER — Yomitan residents rallied Sunday, demanding a U.S. soldier suspected in a fatal hit-and-run be turned over to Japanese authorities immediately.

Rally organizers claim about 1,500 residents gathered near Torii Station, urging both governments to expedite the investigation of the accident and to change the status of forces agreement.

The body of a 66-year-old Yomitan man was found Nov. 7 in bushes by the side of a village road. Three days later, a 27-year-old staff sergeant assigned to Torii Station was identified as the driver of a car that police suspect hit the man.

The soldier, however, refused questioning by Okinawa police after three sessions, claiming that a statement he gave them during an initial question was mistranslated.

"The servicemember has fled into the military base, taking advantage of the status of forces agreement," said a protest resolution that was to be submitted to the Tokyo government.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=66679