Department of Public Safety Commissioner Ramon C. Mafnas on Friday said he was authorized by the Japanese Consulate to confirm the incident, adding that he will release additional information as soon as it is available.
Sawada sustained injuries on Thursday evening that were “self-inflicted.”
He was supposed to appear in federal court for his detention hearing on Friday morning.
Mark Hanson, Sawada’s court-appointed defense attorney, declined to provide details, but said his client has a “good chance to get out” and be released to a local family under pretrial release conditions.
“He is not angry with anybody. He was upset with himself,” said Hanson, referring to the inflight incident that led to Sawada’s arrest.
Sawada was with his business manager, the lady seated beside him, and she was calming him down and were not “struggling” prior to his arrest, Hanson said.
Sawada is a frequent visitor of Saipan and has friends on island, Hanson said.
Federal authorities arrested Sawada on the charge of interference with a flight attendant on the July 11 Delta 298 flight from Japan.
Sawada was in the business class cabin when the incident occurred, the Federal Bureau of Investigation said.
The plane was already descending in preparation for landing within 10 minutes when a flight attendant heard loud noises and banging coming from the business class cabin. Two other passengers helped in physically restraining Sawada.
Sawada, who turned 45 on July 12, was part of X (later X Japan) band from 1985 to 1992. He left the band due to differences with the bandleader Yoshiki. Later he joined other bands like Kings, Cloud Nine, D.T.R. and Loudness. With his younger sister he formed the band Otokaze.
He is known as a slap bassist with unique tapping skills.
