This week, the family of a US Navy officer who was detained in Japan after being involved in a tragic vehicle accident protested in front of the White House in an attempt to bring President Joe Biden’s administration’s attention to the situation.

Navy Lt. Ridge Alkonis is currently serving a three-year sentence in a Japanese jail after being found responsible by Japanese courts in May 2021 for recklessly driving causing deaths of two Japanese civilians.

Lt. Ridge Hanneman Alkonis struck pedestrians and parked cars outside a restaurant on May 29, 2021, while he was travelling around two hours from Yokosuka Naval Base. An 85-year-old mother died in the collision, and her 54-year-old son-in-law passed away a few days later. Others suffered injury.

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Tokyo High Court Judge Akira Ando declared that “The appeal of this case is dismissed, this is a case which is sufficient to consider a prison sentence.” Even after taking into account Alkonis’s regret, the $1.6 million he paid to the families of the victims, and the fact that he has three children of his own, the three-judge panel ruled that the gravity of his actions required him to serve his sentence.

According to his family and wife Brittany, the father of three passed out behind the wheel due to altitude sickness and was subjected to an unfair trial because he was an American military commander, according to Fox News.

She is now urging President Joe Biden to join US Ambassador to Japan Rahm Emanuel’s efforts to bring her husband home after their appeal was denied.

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‘I feel like we hit a ceiling here,’ Brittany said on Fox & Friends. ‘Other than Rahm Emanuel, with whom we spoke and who I’m hopeful can assist, we need the White House as well.’

Brittany told Fox & Friends that Alkonis was in the middle of a conversation with his oldest daughter when he lost consciousness and the car slammed into three pedestrians and five cars in a restaurant parking lot, killing an 85-year-old woman and her 54-year-old son in law and injuring her 53-year-old daughter.

Although Alkonis claimed to have experienced altitude sickness, which was confirmed by a neurologist’s diagnosis, a Japanese judge ruled that it was impossible that the lieutenant could have gone from not feeling sleepy at all to becoming suddenly paralysed. Brittany criticised the judge’s decision because of the judge’s lack of medical expertise.

“And in the appeal we did actually file the medical diagnosis. The court threw it out after the prosecutor requested that it be done so because he didn’t think it was relevant,” she stated.

Altitude sickness as a condition that happens when there is a shift in elevation and is characterised by acute weakness, shortness of breath, exhaustion, and dizziness. Consciousness loss is not one of the typical symptoms.

Brittany further asserts that Japan violated Alkonis’ human rights by subjecting him to an eight-hour questioning for 26 days, which is three days more than what is typically permitted by Japanese law. Alkonis, according to Japanese officials, was detained for the allotted 23 days before being formally accused.

Suzi and Derek Alkonis, as well as Brittany, assert that the lieutenant’s “history of resentment” toward the US military presence in Japan led to the lieutenant’s unfair conviction.

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Alkonis’ family feels that Japan deviated from the customary Status of Forces Agreement because he was involved in politics. According to the SOFA, unless they can show “sufficient cause and necessity” to hold the alleged criminal, Japanese authorities must release offenders to US custody.

In Japan, American service men found guilty of sex crimes allegedly received demotions, fines, or even discharges from the military rather than being sent to prison.

Along with Ambassador Emanuel, there has been bicameral support for Alkonis’ release, with US Senator Mike Lee, a Republican, and US Representative Mike Levin, a Democrat, both calling for the navy official’s release.