CHATAN, Okinawa — A 22-year-old American who reported he was mugged by two Japanese men last week made the story up, an Okinawa police spokesman said Wednesday.
Police said the former servicemember, who works as a bartender in an area of Chatan near Camp Foster’s Kitamae Gate, told them he was attacked the afternoon of Nov. 4 and robbed in a parking lot after one of two Japanese men asked him for a cigarette.
Police said that at the time, he told investigators one of the men slashed his arms with a knife and the other hit him on the head with an unidentified object before they ran away with his wallet, containing 30,000 yen (about $284), and $500 from his pants pocket.
During questioning, however, the American admitted he made a false report to cover up losing bar proceeds, police said. They would not say how the money was lost. According to the final report, the American, who was not identified, said he feared he would be fired for losing the money.
The police spokesman said the man’s injuries were self-inflicted and that police were considering charging him with filing a false report, a misdemeanor.
