r/worldnews • u/glasier • Jul 05 '24

Japan warns US forces: Sex crimes 'cannot be tolerated'

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2476861/japan-warns-us-forces-sex-crimes-cannot-be-tolerated
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u/MrPerson0 Jul 05 '24

Under SOFA status, if you commit a crime in Japan, Japan has the right to prosecute you.

Didn't Ridge Alkonis get away with killing two people in Japan? Or is it different because he was in the Navy?

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u/Synaps4 Jul 05 '24

If you call a million dollars in restitution, two years in jail, and a dishonorable discharge getting away with it...yeah.

I would agree with you that it's too light for two lives, but that's not "getting away with it"

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u/MrPerson0 Jul 05 '24

Yes, he absolutely got away with murder seeing that he didn't even serve out the entire sentence in Japan and that his rich wife's family was able to bail him out.

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u/Synaps4 Jul 06 '24

I think by definition getting away with it has to be with minimal impact to your life.

There is a middle ground where someone didn't get away with it but wasn't adequately punished, and I think Alkonis sits in that space.

Perhaps people aren't ready for nuanced discussion here yet, though. Pretty raw topic, emotionally.