TOKYO, Nov. 14 (Xinhua) -- A 27-year-old U.S. Air Force captain was arrested by Japanese police on Saturday in Okinawa Prefecture on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol, despite measures taken by the U.S. military to curb misconduct among its personnel, local media reported.
According to Kyodo News, the captain, Omena Mushale, who is assigned to Kadena Air Base, was arrested at the scene in the southern Japanese prefecture for allegedly violating Japan's road traffic law. The arrest comes as drunk-driving cases involving U.S. military personnel continue to occur.
Mushale allegedly drove a car while intoxicated in Okinawa at around 3:10 a.m. local time on Saturday. Alcohol was detected in his breath, the report said, citing police.
Japan has urged the U.S. side to strictly enforce military discipline following the arrest of U.S. serviceman Devin Ballard, who was indicted on charges of robbing and murdering a local woman in Naha, Okinawa Prefecture, in early October. The case has sparked widespread anger and concern over misconduct among U.S. troops stationed in Japan.
Following the murder case, the U.S. military initially imposed a 30-day midnight-to-5 a.m. curfew starting Oct. 9. But another serviceman was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving during that period, prompting the military to extend the curfew for lower-ranking personnel by one month until Dec. 7. ■
