Prosecutors, not police, decide formal charges under Japan's criminal justice system. (Pixabay)

CAMP FOSTER, Okinawa — Japanese police arrested an Okinawa-based Marine over the weekend on suspicion of assaulting a restaurant employee over an unpaid bill, according to a spokesman for Okinawa Prefectural Police.

Police allege the unidentified Marine struck a restaurant worker, 27, across the face with the back of his hand around 4:45 a.m. Saturday in the Matsuyama district of Naha city, the spokesman said by phone Monday.

The Marine, 18, is a private first class assigned to Headquarters and Support Battalion at Camp Foster, Marine Corps Installations Pacific spokeswoman 2nd Lt. Kelsey Enlow said by email Monday. She did not identify the Marine.

The Marine Corps is “cooperating with all appropriate authorities,” Enlow wrote.

“The alleged behavior does not reflect the core values of the U.S. Marine Corps, nor does it represent the conduct of the overwhelming majority of Okinawa-based Marines,” she wrote.

The Marine visited the restaurant on a previous day and left without paying his bill, according to the police spokesman. The restaurant employee approached the Marine after seeing him in the street Saturday and an argument ensued.

The police spokesman declined to identify the restaurant.

The Marine had a blood-alcohol content over 0.09%, the spokesman said. By comparison, the legal limit for driving in Japan is 0.03%; and in the U.S., 0.08%.

Police responded following a witness report, the spokesman said. The Marine was in custody Monday at the Naha police station.

The restaurant worker was not seriously injured. The Marine denies the allegations, according to the spokesman.

Some Japanese government officials are required to speak to the media only on condition of anonymity.

Assault without injury can be punishable by imprisonment for not more than two years, a fine of not more than 300,000 yen – about $2,100 – penal detention or a petty fine, according to the Japanese penal code.

Since Dec. 11, Marines ages 19 and younger must be on base or in their off-base residence between 1 a.m. and 5 a.m. No Marine regardless of age is allowed to be in an off-base drinking establishment between those hours, nor may they drink in public off-base during these hours.