Trial over, awaiting
verdict in notorious
drug case

By Debra Barayuga
Star-Bulletin

The last of six men charged in one of the state's biggest drug busts awaits a jury's verdict for the second time.

A retrial, which lasted two weeks, ended yesterday for Robin Saya, 49. He is charged with conspiracy and attempting to possess with intent to distribute crystal methamphetamine, or ice.

If convicted, he faces a mandatory minimum of 10 years in federal prison.

Federal prosecutors contended that Saya was one of six men who conspired to obtain 50 pounds of crystal methamphetamine from October to November 1995 in a "reverse sting" operation with the intent to sell it.

An FBI agent and Honolulu police detective posing as corrupt law enforcement officers initially approached Alfredo Bunag, also known as Freddie Adobo, and offered him 50 pounds of ice for $1.2 million.

Bunag allegedly turned to his drug-dealing friends Robbie Sylva, Frank Burke, Harland Kanahele, Clinton Mau, and Saya for help.

"This was like a hui -- they pooled money together to get ice from an undercover agent," said Florence Nakakuni, assistant U.S. attorney.

Saya was accused of contributing $230,000 cash. Bunag admitted to contributing $430,000. Mau contributed $40,000 and Sylva, $200,000.

Although Saya did not take the stand in his defense, Bunag testified that Saya was involved in the conspiracy, as were Sylva and Burke.

Bunag, Kanahele and Mau pleaded guilty to the conspiracy charges.

Mau was sentenced to four years and seven months in prison. He also received supervised release of five years and agreed to forfeit $40,832 from a drug deal. Bunag and Kanahele will be sentenced in February.

The first trial for Saya, Sylva and Burke in November 1996 ended in a mistrial two months later when the jury became deadlocked after a week of deliberations.

Federal prosecutors alleged there had been attempts of jury tampering and sought an anonymous jury.

Just before what would have been a second trial in Honolulu, U.S. District Judge Alan Kay approved the defendants' motion to move the trial to another state because of publicity stemming from a Chinatown shooting that killed Saya's girlfriend.

All three had their cases transferred to Spokane, Wash., but only Sylva and Burke were tried there and convicted of drug offenses in May. Saya's attorney had withdrawn from his case, and the federal public defender for Washington filed a motion to move his case back to Honolulu.

Sylva was sentenced to 13 years in prison for conspiracy and possession with intent to distribute. Burke was sentenced to 10 years for conspiracy. Both are in federal prisons in Texas.