World · East Asia & Pacific · 4 hrs ago
US Air Force captain arrested on suspicion of drunk driving in Okinawa
Japanese police arrested US Air Force captain Omena Mushale in Okinawa on Nov.
14 on suspicion of driving after drinking.
Mushale, 27, is assigned to Kadena Air Base, and police say he drove in the early morning; he partly denied the allegation, saying he thought it was safe because his home was nearby.
Police said a breath test detected an alcohol concentration below 0.5 milligrams per litre.
The arrest comes amid repeated drink-driving cases involving US military personnel in Okinawa.
The military tightened discipline after a US serviceman was arrested in October on suspicion of robbery and murder in Naha.
A curfew for lower-ranking personnel runs through Dec.
7, and all service members are barred from drinking alcohol outside their homes between midnight and 5 a.m.
Japanese police arrested 27-year-old U.S. Air Force captain Omena Mushale in Okinawa on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol.
Police said Mushale was stopped at about 3:10 a.m. on Nov. 14 after driving out of a parking lot in an entertainment district.
A breath test detected an alcohol concentration of less than 0.5 milligrams per liter, police said.
Mushale partially denied the allegation, saying he thought it would be fine because his home was nearby.
The arrest came as the U.S. military was tightening discipline following other cases involving service members in Okinawa.
- Who
- Omena Mushale, a 27-year-old U.S. Air Force captain assigned to Kadena Air Base.
- What
- He was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol. He partially denied the allegation.
- When
- Nov. 14, at about 3:10 a.m.
- Where
- Okinawa, Japan.
- Why
- Police suspected he had driven while intoxicated, allegedly violating Japan’s road traffic law.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The U.S. military began a midnight-to-5 a.m. curfew for 30 days as a period of reflection.
A U.S. serviceman was arrested in Naha for alleged robbery and murder, prompting efforts to tighten discipline.
Another serviceman was arrested on suspicion of drunk driving, leading to stricter measures.
The military extended the curfew for lower-ranking personnel and banned all service members from drinking alcohol outside their homes between midnight and 5 a.m.
Japanese police arrested Mushale on suspicion of driving under the influence in Okinawa.
- Suspect
- Omena Mushale
- Age and rank
- 27-year-old U.S. Air Force captain
- Assignment
- Kadena Air Base
- Alleged driving time
- About 3:10 a.m. on Nov. 14
- Breath alcohol reading
- Less than 0.5 milligrams per liter
- Arrest location
- Okinawa, Japan