New policy keeps heat on deserters in Japan
By Travis J. Tritten and Hana Kusumoto, Stars and Stripes
Pacific edition, Friday, August 14, 2009
The U.S. military in Japan has been more aggressive in charging and tracking deserters since a fugitive sailor stabbed a taxi driver to death last year, military legal staff and investigators said.
Since then, a dozen servicemembers have been charged with desertion and five remain at large, according to figures supplied by U.S. Forces Japan, Japanese police and local bases.