U.S. military personnel who cause traffic accidents after drinking alcohol at events considered part of their official duties will no longer be able to avoid trial in Japan.
The revision to the operation of the Status of Forces Agreement, which governs the handling of U.S. service personnel in Japan, was reached Friday by the high-level Japan-U.S. Joint Committee, the Foreign Ministry said. SOFA now states that "drinking intoxicating beverages shall remove such person from his official duty status."
Japan has no authority under SOFA to try U.S. military personnel who have allegedly committed crimes in Japan while on duty. (Japan Times)
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