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Duke Foundation sues Marcos for repayment
The trustees of the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation sued Imelda Marcos yesterday for defaulting on payment of a $5 million loan she received from Duke in 1990.The lawsuit, filed in Circuit Court, included a copy of a March 6, 1990, notarized promissory note from Marcos.
Duke died in 1993 at the age of 80. A former Hawaii resident, she was friends with Marcos, who also lived here when her late husband, former Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, was exiled.
Also yesterday, U.S. District Judge Manuel Real rescheduled until April 24 a contempt hearing order to show cause for why a settlement agreement against the Marcos estate should not be voided.
Real approved a landmark settlement last year in which the Marcos family agreed to pay $150 million to compensate 9,539 Filipinos.
They won a class-action lawsuit against the Marcos estate for the torture, summary execution and disappearance of dissidents during Marcos' 20-year rule, which ended in 1986.
But Imelda Marcos says she has no money to pay the settlement.
Roofer faces jail, fine for asbestos release
A federal grand jury has indicted a roofing company and its owner on charges of failing to report the release of a pound or more of asbestos, a hazardous substance.Sunset Roofing Co. and owner Frederick Botelho, 41, of Pearl City were in charge of a facility from which the asbestos was allegedly released.
Despite knowledge of the release, Botelho failed to notify the appropriate federal agency immediately sometime before July 20, 1998, U.S. Attorney Steven Alm said.
Botelho faces a maximum term of three years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
His company is subject to a $500,000 fine.
Group protests threat to immersion program
WAILUKU -- A group of parents and students are protesting the potential closure of a Hawaiian language immersion program in South Maui.Lisa Kim-Bryant of Kihei said the group has been told that the program may have to find a new location outside of the Kihei Youth Center. She said 17 students are served by the program.
Executive director Jeff Rogers said he plans to meet with the group next week, after doing some research.
Rogers, whose first formal day of work was Wednesday, said a letter was sent to parents informing them of a need to restructure the youth center's priorities by April 15, including the use of space in the center.
"The program has not been canceled," Rogers said.
Fire at Maui mall under investigation
WAILUKU -- Fire officials were investigating the cause of a fire that caused an estimated $65,000 in damages to three businesses at the Kahana Gateway Shopping Center in West Maui.Acting Assistant Fire Chief Frank Tam said the fire began near a stove at Roy's Nicolina restaurant at about 4:46 a.m. Wednesday.
Most of the damage to the restaurant, Hutton's Fine Jewelers and Ashley's Yogurt Ice Cream Shoppe was caused by water from an emergency sprinkler system, Tam said.
Corrections
A graphic yesterday on Mayor Jeremy Harris' proposed executive city budget was incorrectly labeled. For fiscal years 1994 through 1999, it reflected the city operating budget, which includes City Council expenses.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Police raid two houses growing pot, arrest 3
HILO -- Police raided two indoor marijuana growing operations south of Hilo and arrested three men, they said.At 10:10 a.m. yesterday, police raided a house in Hawaiian Paradise Park and confiscated 259 plants up to 6 inches tall.
Outside, police said they found another 112 plants 2 feet high and a pound of dried marijuana.
Two men, 21 and 22, were arrested, but released pending further investigation.
At 6:56 p.m. police responded to a fire alarm at a home in Hawaiian Shores. At the scene they found no fire, but marijuana was visible.
After obtaining a search warrant, police said they found a hydroponic growing operation inside the house with 241 plants up to 2 feet high, 4.3 pounds of dried marijuana, $1,300 in cash and another 115 plants outside.
The 45-year-old man living in the house was arrested and released pending further investigation.
Witness helps to catch Waikiki purse-snatcher
A bystander helped capture a purse-snatching suspect in Waikiki last night.Two women were at a table at a Kuhio Avenue restaurant when a man grabbed their handbags and ran out the door at 9:57 p.m., police said.
He ran toward the Ala Wai Canal as a witness gave chase.
The witness followed the man until he ran into a building.
Police arrived and found the suspect.
Man stabbed in chest with ice pick at bus stop
A 28-year-old man was stabbed in the chest with an ice pick near Aala Park by a man who is still at large, police said.The man was stabbed by an acquaintance at a bus stop at 10:40 a.m. yesterday, police said.
He is in stable condition at a nearby hospital.
Robber offered drugs, then said he had a gun
Police are searching for a man who allegedly robbed a tourist at gunpoint yesterday in Waikiki.The suspect approached the tourist and offered the victim drugs near Kuhio and Royal Hawaiian Avenues at 4 a.m.
When the tourist refused, the suspect demanded money and said he had a gun, police said.
Bank robber who turned himself in faces charges
A man was indicted yesterday on federal charges related to the Feb. 18 robbery at International Savings & Loan's Kapahulu branch.Robert Enoka Torres, 33, allegedly passed a demand note to a teller but left the bank without any cash.
He turned himself in two days later.
