Another person busted in West Loch inquest
A 73-year-old woman was arrested in connection with the misuse of relocation funds involving the city's West Loch Estates project.Yesterday's arrest was the third in a week involving West Loch relocations.
The arrests are part of the city's investigation that began earlier this year at Ewa Villages into bogus transactions with city relocation funds.
Police say millions may have been illegally doled out.
About 28 people have been arrested so far.
White-collar crime unit police Lt. Daniel Hanagami said yesterday's arrest involved "fictitious billings for moves that did not occur."
The woman who was arrested is an officer in a heavy equipment rental company based in Pearl City, police said.
She is being investigated on charges of theft, racketeering and money laundering, police said.
She was released pending investigation.
Three more MIA remains brought back to U.S.
Remains believed to be those of three American soldiers killed during the Vietnam War were to arrive today at Hickam Air Force Base.The plane bringing the remains to Hawaii for identification at the U.S. Army's Central Identification Laboratory also carried American service personnel on a 30-day operation to excavate up to 10 sites in Vietnam.
Altogether, 2,078 Americans are listed as still missing in Southeast Asia, including 1,549 in Vietnam.
Water break disrupts traffic in Nanakuli
An 8-inch water main broke yesterday, forcing the closure of one Makaha-bound lane to traffic near the intersection of Farrington Highway and Nanakuli Avenue.The break was reported at 10 a.m., and crews were still working at the scene late yesterday afternoon.
Pacific Heights sewage spills out of manhole
A burlap bag in a manhole caused 675 gallons of sewage to spill in Pacific Heights yesterday.The bag may have been placed there deliberately, the city said.
The manhole backed up near 2306 Pacific Heights Road.
City crews arrived at 7:45 a.m. and reported the spill stopped at 8:30 a.m.
The sewage overflowed into a nearby storm drain that empties into Nuuanu Stream.
Warning signs went up along all accessible parts of the stream.
High court suspends Collins from practice
Hawaii's Supreme Court has suspended Honolulu attorney Scott K. Collins from practicing law for six months based on his no-contest pleas to charges involving controlled substances, firearms and assault.Collins' suspension will be effective Dec. 1.
He has been granted deferred acceptance of his pleas, according to a press release from the court's Office of Disciplinary Counsel.
The court also ordered the director of the Attorneys' and Judges' Assistance Program to monitor Collins' rehabilitation.
An Oct. 29 article incorrectly stated that the Bishop Estate discussed trading the fee interest to some Hawaii Kai apartments for a Big Island parcel affiliated with Jeff Stone, brother-in-law of estate trustee Richard Wong. Stone discussed trading apartments for the Big Island property with the property's previous owner, Kapua Ventures. CORRECTION
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Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffMakaha man burned while dousing fire
Police suspect arson in a Makaha house fire that hospitalized a 41-year-old man with first- and second-degree burns early this morning.The man was sleeping on the couch when he awoke to flames in the living room of his home at 84-733 Fricke St., officials said. He used a garden hose to fight the blaze.
The fire was extinguished when crews arrived at 12:53 a.m.
Arson investors said the fire had multiple points of origin within the home. No suspects have been identified.
Fire officials estimated $20,000 damage to the structure and $5,000 to the contents.
The man suffered first- and second-degree burns to 20 percent of his body. He was taken to Straub Hospital, where he is in good condition.
Three women arrested in prostitution raids
Undercover police officers arrested three women for prostitution at two Honolulu massage parlors last night.Jina Chang, 50, and Diane Hironaka, 19, were arrested at Far East Relaxation on Kapiolani Boulevard at 9:45 p.m. and charged with prostitution and not having a massage license, police said.
Ok Vela, 39, was arrested at Young's Massage on Keeaumoku Street at 10 p.m. and charged with prostitution.
The offenses are misdemeanor offenses, police said.
According to police Narcotics/
Vice officials, the bust was in cooperation with agents from the state and U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Services.
Police seek identity of man who drowned
Police are seeking the public's assistance in identifying a man who was found Tuesday floating in waters off Diamond Head beach at 10:30 a.m.The body was discovered by divers about 350 yards offshore at an area called "Cromwell's."
The man is Japanese, 35-55 years old, and has the word "Hawaii" tattooed on his right shoulder.
Anyone with information can call police (529-3115) or the medical examiner's office (527-6777).
In other news . . .
A 31-year-old man was in critical condition this morning at Queen's Medical Center after suffering injuries in a traffic accident in central Molokai.
The man was traveling south in a pickup truck on Maunaloa Highway when the truck went right onto a dirt embankment, then back on the road where it rolled over on its left side at about 10:10 p.m. Wednesday, ejecting him from the vehicle.
Police Sgt. Mollie Cameron said another vehicle skidded and struck the man.
The woman was traveling east on Old Farrington Highway near the Palehua Road cutoff when she lost control at 9:21 a.m., fire officials said.
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