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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff
and wire service
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Financial adviser's license pulled
The state Insurance Division suspended the license of Honolulu investment adviser Mark K. Teruya yesterday for allegedly transferring a client's money without his permission.
The action by Chief Deputy Insurance Commission Gordon Ito came after the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filed securities fraud charges Friday against Teruya and his company, Senior Resources of Hawaii Ltd., which does business as USA Wealth Resources.
The state notified Teruya, 35, of intention to revoke his license because of alleged fraud, misrepresentation and deceptive acts, according to a news release. He allegedly induced an 82-year-old person to sign forms that gave Teruya access to the person's financial institution. The state charged that he accessed the victim's account without permission and transferred more than $100,000 from one insurance company to another.
Teruya has 30 days to request a hearing.
Hawaii Securities Commissioner Tung Chan said Friday that 19 people have filed complaints against Senior Resources. About $5 million in assets was tampered with in those cases, he said. The state named three other employees of the company in the filing last filed Friday in U.S. District Court.
The company conducted financial planning seminars aimed at retirees. Attendees were rushed into signing forms that gave access to their financial accounts, the federal filing said.
Security boost affects Kahe Point
Snorkelers, divers, surfers, swimmers and fishers who frequent Kahe Point on Oahu's Waianae Coast could be ordered out of the water under certain Homeland Security conditions, the Coast Guard confirmed yesterday.
Most of a list of new Coast Guard-enforced security zones for Hawaii that took effect yesterday is minor adjustments regarding ports that already have security zones.
But the ocean within 500 yards of Hawaiian Electric's Kahe Power Plant is designated for the first time as a potential marine security level 2 area, Coast Guard spokesman Lt. John Titchen said.
That designation -- and clearing the waters off Kahe Point -- would only be activated if marine security needs were deemed equivalent to the Department of Homeland Security Advisory System's Threat Condition Orange, Titchen said.
To put that in perspective, Titchen said that in the past three years, there have been three instances of marine security level 2 in Hawaii, each lasting just a few hours. The threat level could be triggered by pollution, natural disaster or security threats, he said.
A lot of dive instructors use the Kahe Point area for diving tests because it has an easy sandy beach to get in and out of the water and there is good viewing of sea life, said William Aila, Waianae harbormaster.
If the Coast Guard did activate the Kahe security zone, boaters and divers would be informed both by a Coast Guard vessel with a loudspeaker and via marine radio broadcasts, Titchen said.
Diesel fuel spill has little impact
A spill of diesel fuel Sunday at Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor turned out to be about 10 gallons, causing little lasting environmental impact, a Coast Guard spokesman said yesterday.
Marisco Ltd. reported that the fuel came from one of its dry docks, and hired a company to clean up from the incident, said Coast Guard Lt. John Titchen.
By yesterday afternoon any diesel that had dispersed on the water had either evaporated or been absorbed by the cleanup company, Titchen said.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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Girl alleges sex assault by boy
A 4-year-old girl was reportedly sexually assaulted Sunday evening by a boy in Kaneohe.
Police opened a first-degree sexual assault case yesterday.
The girl reported being sexually assaulted by an unknown boy, police said. The sexual assault reportedly occurred at about 6 p.m. Sunday, police said.
No further information was released yesterday concerning the case.
HONOLULU
Man allegedly tries to tow stolen car
Police arrested a 47-year-old tow truck driver who was allegedly towing a stolen car.
Police said an officer saw the man towing the car at about 3:20 p.m. Sunday on Houghtailing Street in Kalihi. The officer then learned that the car being towed had been reported stolen.
The tow truck driver lowered the car and tried to leave but was detained and arrested for investigation of second-degree detaining stolen property.
Knife attack leads to man's arrest
Police arrested a 21-year-old Kalihi man for allegedly slashing another man with a knife Saturday night at Kuhio Park Terrace after he was accused of stealing beer.
Police said that around 9:30 p.m. the 32-year-old victim saw the man trying to take beer from his friends.
After a confrontation, the suspect allegedly pulled out a knife used for cooking and slashed the man, causing a 1-inch-long cut to his upper lip, a 10-inch-long cut to his chest and a half-inch puncture wound to his right shoulder blade.
Police did not have any more information on the victim's condition. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of first-degree assault.
NORTH SHORE
Man allegedly spits at robbery victim
Police arrested a 44-year- old man who allegedly tried to rob a 60-year-old woman and later allegedly assaulted a police officer.
Police said the suspect threatened the woman in Haleiwa yesterday, spit at her and demanded money.
The suspect fled but officers found him later, police said. As police were trying to arrest him, he assaulted one of the officers, causing bodily injury, police said.
Police arrested the suspect for investigation of second-degree robbery and first- degree assault on a law enforcement officer.
WEST OAHU
Firefighters help 3 affected by fumes
Firefighters treated three people with oxygen Sunday after they complained of being irritated by a foul odor believed to be sewer gas at Harvey's Barbershop in Waipahu.
At about 10:40 a.m., firefighters received a call about a odor like rotten eggs at 94-216 Farrington Highway.
Three people in the barbershop were taken to nearby shops while a hazardous-materials team searched for gas and chemicals.
Fire Capt. Robert Main said tests were negative for poisonous gases and that the rotten egg smell would indicate more than likely that it was sewer gas.
Firefighters ventilated the area, Main said, and the barbershop will have a plumber come in today to check out the leak.
