A local businessman was arrested Monday on suspicion of aiming what is suspected to be a laser at a U.S. military aircraft while it was flying near a U.S. base in Okinawa in July.

Katsuro Hiraoka, the 56-year-old manager of a video-related company, was arrested on suspicion of beaming the green rays three times at a helicopter carrying four marines near U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Futenma, from a parking space at his nearby home at around 9 p.m. July 1.

Okinawa police alleged that he has admitted to the allegation.

The police said they started getting reports from U.S. forces between July last year and this July that their aircraft had been targeted six times by what they suspected were lasers.

The police said they confiscated what is believed to be a laser pointer during a search Monday of Hiraoka's home and that they are investigating whether he was involved in the other cases as well.

The U.S. Marine Corps expressed concern over the incidents, with an official saying last week that such interference with flight activities "poses a threat to the safe operation" of aircraft at the air base.

While there have been no reports of injuries in relation to the beams, light of that sort can blind aviators and lead to a crash, especially when they are training with night vision devices, according to the marines.

A total of 48 U.S. military aircraft, including 24 MV-22 Ospreys, are stationed at Futenma, which is situated in a crowded part of Ginowan.