One woman woke to find a US marine assaulting her in her bed, another was taken to hospital after having her drink spiked at a military barracks, and a third believed a US marine grabbed her and tried to sexually assault her at a bar. All the incidents took place in Australia’s Northern Territory, but the investigations into them were either handed over to US authorities, stalled, or dropped.
As part of a pre-trial agreement, the marine was not convicted of sexual assault, and instead pleaded guilty to assault and disorderly conduct at a US marine corp trial. He was demoted, sentenced to three months of hard labour and was restricted to a US military base for two months. In the case file, a handwritten note by a senior Australian military officer states the woman involved was “comfortable” that the investigation concluded.
“Sure they [the US military] are our allies, brothers in arms, but that doesn’t mean they should be given a different standard. This was one of our own.” In a second case, a civilian woman visiting a friend in the ADF at Robertson Barracks in Darwin had to be taken to hospital after having her drink spiked by what was later identified as a substance commonly used in sexual assault cases in the US.
After close to two years, there is no update on the case according to the documents obtained by SBS News. The woman also said she has not received any new information. In a third case, a woman serving in the Australian military said a man she believed was a US marine grabbed her by the neck and tried to kiss her in a Darwin bar, and also put his hand up her skirt.
“To have that crime treated differently because of who the perpetrator is rather than what happened to them and where it happened and so for that reason, I find it surprising and concerning,” she said. “Such jurisdictional concerns do not relieve the ADF of its duty of care to its members and its duty to provide a safe working environment.”
“Just because the complainant did not know the offender does not mean the offender could not be identified. That is why we have investigative mechanisms.”NT Police and the Minister for Defence Peter Dutton did not respond to requests for comment.
That has happened in every country where US military have bases.
YankeesGoHome Please stop kneecapping the world. We don't need a world police.
Okinawan women's civic group chronicles sex crimes by U.S. military. 'unearthed clues about unresolved cases, eventually publishing a 12th edition, which depicts stark details of about 350 U.S military sex crimes.' Japan, Australia US military sex crimes
US army personnel kill, torture and rape with impunity.
Osaka, Japan have been trying to get rid of the US marines stationed there for years. Reported rapes go uninvestigated, even a murder which sparked public protests went nowhere. Everywhere the marines go, sexual assault is sure to follow.
This is absolutely atrocious. How can an Australian authority even contemplate aiding and abetting these perpetrators to escape jurisdiction and punishment. Harold Holt was possibly assassinated, as Whitlam dethroned, by the US, in opposing their bellicose ways.
YANKEES GO HOME
plesbilongmi Well where is Jethro.and his team ..n.c.i.s
Where is the full statement from the Department of Defence on this?
Female US soldiers are more likely to experience sexual assault or rape than be killed in action.
Sone people may think it is ok to rape in Iraq , Afghanistan , Syria , Lebanon , Libya, Chechnya, Vietnam,
I'm not surprised, I've heard they've done the same thing in Asia.
thankyou SBS. We are poorly served by local outlets.
Sad you can’t feel safe with work mates and specially in the marines
Put simply...US military personnel are protected from prosecution when on foreign soil.
these chics volunteer to sex with USA guys.
noplaceforsheep Marines are picked to not have a conscience, hoorah!
Easily fixed! Don't go with an American serviceman.
That is horrendous. The Australian government must have tried those accused in Australia. Justice for the victims - all women will now be impossible! Time Australia stands for justice for all victims of abuse. Abu Ghuraib was largely brushed off and scoffed at in Australia!
And ASPI and other military industrial complex cutouts are calling for more American troops and bases in Oz. Remember this next time.
They did it in Japan regularly. And got away with it.. Of course they do it here too
BernardGyorgy this is another reason why Americans shouldn't be allowed in Australia
If you or someone you know is impacted by sexual assault, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732 or visit
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