Family members of accused U.S. Army deserter Charles Jenkins said they were barred from seeing him in a Tokyo hospital because U.S. and Japanese officials want to settle the matter of the former sergeant quickly, possibly through a plea bargain.
The claims by Jenkins' nephew, James Hyman, and his wife, Shirlee, came Saturday amid media reports that the Japanese government is urging Jenkins to make a plea bargain with Washington.
Jenkins, who is being treated at a Tokyo hospital, is wanted by the United States for allegedly abandoning his South Korean post in 1965 and defecting to North Korea. Under a bilateral agreement with Japan, U.S. authorities can take custody of Jenkins here.