A US sailor who raped a Japanese woman on the southern island of Okinawa was Friday sentenced to 30 months in prison, a court said.
Crimes by American military and civilian personnel have sparked protests on crowded Okinawa for decades, sometimes creating tension between security allies Japan and the United States.
It makes up less than one percent of Japan's total land area but is home to about 75 percent of the space allotted for US bases in the country.
The convicted sailor, 24-year-old Justin Castellanos, was arrested in March for allegedly raping the tourist while she was unconscious at a hotel in the Okinawan capital city of Naha.
Castellanos, stationed at a US Marine Corps base on the island, was charged by the local prosecutor's office in April.
A spokesman at Naha District Court told AFP the court handed Castellanos a 30-month jail term, without giving further details.
According to media reports, prosecutors had demanded a four-year term but the court decided on a more lenient sentence.
"It cannot be concluded that he brought her into a room with intent to rape her from the beginning," Presiding judge Jiro Shiomi reportedly said.
But he added that the victim must have felt "a great fear."
Castellanos' arrest happened before the death of a 20-year-old woman allegedly raped and killed in April by a US base civilian worker that prompted a recent spike in anti-US anger.
Tens of thousands rallied on the island in June to protest against the heavy US military presence and violent crimes by its personnel.
About 26,000 US troops are stationed in Okinawa, including at the sprawling Kadena Air Base, and criminal behaviour as well as noise and disruption have long been a thorn in Japan-US ties.
AFP
Fri Jul 15 2016
![US sailor gets 30 months in prison for Okinawa rape US sailor gets 30 months in prison for Okinawa rape](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/http://img.astroawani.com/2016-07/41468580006_OkinawaProtest.jpg)
People hold placards as they protest against the presence of US bases, in front of the gate of the US Marine Corps' Camp Schwab in Nago on the southern island of Okinawa prefecture on June 17, 2016. - AFP Photo/Toru Yamanaka
![Ketua Hak Asasi Manusia PBB rayu agar konflik di Gaza dihentikan Ketua Hak Asasi Manusia PBB rayu agar konflik di Gaza dihentikan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-06/81717499145_TBVolkerTurk.jpg)
Ketua Hak Asasi Manusia PBB rayu agar konflik di Gaza dihentikan
Volker Turk berkata, kebanyakan yang terkorban adalah wanita dan kanak-kanak.
![Angka kematian di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 40,005, lebih 92,401 cedera Angka kematian di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 40,005, lebih 92,401 cedera](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/81723343252_Palestiniansmourn.jpg)
Angka kematian di seluruh Semenanjung Gaza meningkat kepada 40,005, lebih 92,401 cedera
Perkhidmatan kecemasan masih tidak dapat membantu ramai mangsa dan membawa keluar mayat yang terperangkap di bawah runtuhan.
![Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-03/71709993909_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita antarabangsa pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Antara pelbagai berita luar negara yang disiarkan di Astro AWANI, berikut adalah yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang hari ini.
![Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2023-08/61691941883_TBBERITAx.jpg)
Berita tempatan pilihan sepanjang hari ini
Berikut adalah berita yang paling menjadi tumpuan sepanjang Khamis, 15 Ogos 2024.
Tumpuan Jumaat – 16 Ogos 2024
Ikuti rangkuman berita utama yang menjadi tumpuan di Astro AWANI.
![PRK Nenggiri: Polis sahkan ada cubaan pengaruhi pengundi untuk tidak keluar mengundi PRK Nenggiri: Polis sahkan ada cubaan pengaruhi pengundi untuk tidak keluar mengundi](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-04/41714298313_DatukMuhamadZakiH.jpg)
PRK Nenggiri: Polis sahkan ada cubaan pengaruhi pengundi untuk tidak keluar mengundi
Polis mengesahkan bahawa ada pihak tertentu yang cuba mempengaruhi pengundi untuk tidak menunaikan tanggungjawab mereka pada Pilihan Raya Kecil (PRK) Dewan Undangan Negeri (DUN) Nenggiri, Sabtu ini.
![[KOLUMNIS] Kerajaan komited majukan infrastruktur jalan raya di Sabah dan Sarawak [KOLUMNIS] Kerajaan komited majukan infrastruktur jalan raya di Sabah dan Sarawak](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/51723734879_LebuhrayaPanBorneo.jpg)
[KOLUMNIS] Kerajaan komited majukan infrastruktur jalan raya di Sabah dan Sarawak
Di Malaysia, pembangunan infrastruktur seperti jalan raya merupakan kunci kepada kemajuan ekonomi dan kesejahteraan masyarakat.
![Pasaran EV Malaysia berpotensi capai dua peratus menjelang akhir tahun - EON Pasaran EV Malaysia berpotensi capai dua peratus menjelang akhir tahun - EON](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/61723715909_TBEONBHD.jpg)
Pasaran EV Malaysia berpotensi capai dua peratus menjelang akhir tahun - EON
EON mengunjurkan penembusan pasaran kenderaan elektrik (EV) Malaysia mencecah sehingga dua peratus menjelang akhir tahun, didorong oleh pelancaran model EV tambahan.
![AADK sedia hadapi cabaran selepas RUU Akta Penagih Dadah 2024 diwartakan AADK sedia hadapi cabaran selepas RUU Akta Penagih Dadah 2024 diwartakan](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2024-08/41723715345_ShamsulAnuarNasara.jpg)
AADK sedia hadapi cabaran selepas RUU Akta Penagih Dadah 2024 diwartakan
Agensi Antidadah Kebangsaan (AADK) sudah bersiap sedia dalam segala aspek sejurus Rang Undang-Undang Akta Penagih Dadah (Rawatan dan Pemulihan) 1983 (Pindaan) 2024 diwartakan kelak.
![MIDF unjur KDNK suku kedua 2024 Malaysia berkembang 6.1 peratus MIDF unjur KDNK suku kedua 2024 Malaysia berkembang 6.1 peratus](https://resizer-awani.eco.astro.com.my/tr:w-177,h-100,q-100,f-auto/https://img.astroawani.com/2022-07/71658163463_klcc.jpg)
MIDF unjur KDNK suku kedua 2024 Malaysia berkembang 6.1 peratus
MIDF Amanah Investment Bank Bhd mengunjurkan pertumbuhan KDNK Malaysia bagi suku kedua 2024 pada sekitar 6.1 peratus tahun ke tahun, disokong oleh pertumbuhan kukuh sektor perkhidmatan.