Suspects in drug-ring murders
By Debra Barayuga
ordered held on $1 million bail
Star-BulletinTwo Waialua men charged with the murders of two men who disappeared on the North Shore in 1997 are being held on $1 million bail, cash only.
An Oahu grand jury yesterday indicted Benjamin Tandal, 20, and Edward Vidal Jr., 33, in the deaths of Steve Tozon and Tranquilino Bati Jr. Their bodies have not been found.
Each is charged with two counts of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree murder because the murders involved more than two victims. First-degree murder carries life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Circuit Judge Richard Perkins also granted the state's request to increase their bail from $400,000 because they posed a danger to the community and to potential witnesses and were flight risks.
The two are believed to have been part of a North Shore drug ring that netted $2.5 million in drug sales during three months in 1998.
According to court affidavits, the murders were ordered by Styran E. Rivera Jr., 35, a former state prison guard who is in federal custody on drug-related offenses. Authorities say he is expected to be charged in the murders at a later date.
According to a witness, Tandal shot both Tozon and Bati outside Rivera's residence in June 1997. The bodies were buried, but about a month later, the bodies were exhumed and dumped at sea outside Haleiwa with cement tiles attached to them as weights, the witness told police.
On Sunday, police searched Vidal's home and attached shack at 66-214 Kamehameha Highway and recovered what appeared to be marijuana, crystal methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and an unregistered firearm. A .38-caliber revolver was located in a bedroom shared by Tandal and his brother.
Rivera and Aisha Kaluhiokalani, 19, also of Waialua, were charged in a federal complaint July 31 with possession with intent to distribute over 5 grams of methamphetamine. Rivera was also charged with possessing with intent to distribute over 50 grams of methamphetamine on July 30.
