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CNN Live At Daybreak

U.S. Staff Sergeant Accused of Rape to be Turned Over to Japan

Aired July 06, 2001 - 07:06   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
COLLEEN MCEDWARDS, CNN ANCHOR: There are also some overnight developments in the rape investigation involving a U.S. serviceman in Japan. Washington's ambassador to Japan now says the Air Force staff sergeant accused of rape will be turned over to Japanese police.

CNN's Tokyo bureau chief Rebecca MacKinnon has details now from Tokyo -- Rebecca.

REBECCA MACKINNON, CNN TOKYO BUREAU CHIEF: Hello, Colleen.

Well, Staff Sergeant . Timothy Woodland is now at the Kadena Air Force Base, where he has been based, awaiting transfer to the Okinawa City police station, where he will be formally arrested. He's expected to be arrested very soon now that a joint committee between the U.S. and Japan have finalized details of his transfer.

Now, the announcement, as you mentioned, came from the U.S. ambassador to Japan, announcing the decision that Washington had made to hand him over in a meeting with the Japanese foreign minister, Makiko Tanaka. He said that the United States is now satisfied after extensive discussion that Woodland will be treated fairly.

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HOWARD BAKER, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO JAPAN: The decision to transfer custody was made after careful consideration of the facts and circumstances of the case and after discussion with Japanese authorities about how to proceed in the criminal investigation.

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MACKINNON: Now, Japan's foreign minister made it clear that at stake here in part is Japanese pride: Japan wanting to show to the world and to the United States that its justice system, that its police, are as fair and straightforward as in the United States or in other countries.

However, down in Okinawa, tempers are still very hot. Okinawa is home to 26,000 U.S. troops -- politicians there saying the transfer took far too long -- the governor of Okinawa calling for a drastic revision of the Status of Forces Agreement governing U.S. military bases here in Japan -- Colleen.

MCEDWARDS: All right, CNN's Rebecca MacKinnon in Tokyo, thank you.

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