A U.S. Navy officer, previously transferred from a Japanese prison, has been released from detention in the United States

A U.S. Navy officer, Lieutenant Ridge Alkonis, previously serving a sentence in a Japanese prison for negligent driving leading to the death of two individuals, has been granted parole and released from detention in the United States, as reported by his family to CNN.

The U.S. Parole Commission issued an order for Alkonis’ immediate release without supervision on Friday morning, according to statements from his family.

In October 2021, Alkonis, stationed in Japan, received a three-year sentence from a Japanese court for negligent driving resulting in the death of two people and injuries to another in May 2021. He claimed to suffer from acute mountain sickness during the incident, leading to a loss of consciousness. However, the court rejected this argument, and his appeal was denied in July 2022.

The Alkonis family contended that Ridge was unwell, emphasizing illness rather than negligence, asserting that he committed no crime. Additionally, they highlighted their offer of over $1 million in restitution to the victims’ families, following the customary practice in Japan.

Throughout the legal proceedings, the family argued that there were violations of the status of forces agreement between the United States and Japan. They advocated for Alkonis to be transferred back to the U.S. under the Council of Europe Convention on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. This would enable him to complete his sentence in the United States.

Under the terms of the treaty, to which Japan acceded in 2003, the transfer requires agreement from the prisoner, the Government of Japan, and the U.S. government. The process can extend for two years or more from initiation, according to information from the U.S. Embassy in Japan. Notably, Alkonis was remanded to U.S. custody following direct involvement by Vice President Kamala Harris and national security adviser Jake Sullivan, as previously reported by CNN.