The US military will court-martial four marines accused of raping a Japanese woman in the city of Hiroshima last year, it was confirmed today.
Two of the four Marines accused of the rape in Hiroshima will face a general court-martial in late April and early May. Dates for the remaining two have yet to be scheduled.
Media had reported last October that the marines had allegedly raped the 19-year-old woman in a car at a car park after meeting her at an event hall.
Japanese prosecutors had earlier on dropped the case citing insufficient evidence to charge the four, but the US military said it would press on with the investigation.
The four were charged in December by the US military with several violations including rape, sexual assault and other sexual misconduct.
There was outrage in Japan last month over the suspected rape of a 14-year-old girl by another marine on the southern island of Okinawa.
Japan hosts about 50,000 US military personnel as part of the US-Japan security alliance.