Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.
Alleged pornographer detained without bail
A U.S. Magistrate has ordered the accused leader of a Honolulu-based Internet pornography ring held without bail.Akita Sekimoto is not a U.S. citizen and could be deported even if the court granted him bail conditions, his attorney William Harrison said today after the detention hearing.
U.S. Immigration District Director Don Radcliffe said the operation at 1155 Hala Drive used video chat rooms to conduct live Internet sessions with models.
The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service capped a five-month investigation by arresting four models and four others at a Kamehameha Heights residence.
Sekimoto and Takao Ono -- the president and vice president, respectively, of Aloha Data Ltd. -- were indicted for conspiring to smuggle aliens into the United States.
Also indicted on the felony count were Sean Nakayama and Shihoko Sakamoto.
Insurance firm pays city for fraud losses
The city was recently given a $1 million check as an insurance payment from Fidelity & Deposit of Maryland in connection with the Ewa Villages fraud scandal.Corporation Counsel David Arakawa said $1 million was the maximum payment allowed under the policy.
The amount received is far short of the estimated $6 million lost when two city officials allegedly paid relocation funds to moving companies for moves either not done or done at exorbitant prices.
"We're hoping that maybe the prosecutors can seek some restitution," Arakawa said.
The case goes to trial later this year.
Public may comment on judicial nominees
Nominations for three judicial vacancies have been submitted by the Judicial Election Commission, Chief Justice Ronald Moon announced.The nominations are:
District Court of the First Circuit (Honolulu): Derrick H.M. Chan, Philip M. Doi, William H. Jameson Jr., Paula D. Matayoshi, Alvin K. Nishimura and Barbara P. Richardson.
Anyone who wants to comment on the suitability of the nominees may send written comments by Feb. 22 to Hon. Ronald T.Y. Moon, Chief Justice, Supreme Court of Hawaii, P.O. Box 2560, Honolulu 96804.
Written comments may be faxed to 539-4703 or hand-delivered to the Supreme Court Clerk's Office at 417 S. King St.
Comments will be confidential.
Any individual selected by the chief justice is subject to Senate confirmation.
BYUH celebrates 45th anniversary this week
Brigham Young University-Hawaii celebrates its 45th anniversary this week with a homecoming basketball game and parade and a Founders Day ceremony.This year also marks the end of the university's four-year capital campaign, "Lighting the Way for the 21st Century."
Tomorrow, BYUH will hold a capital campaign dinner at the Polynesian Cultural Center. Saturday, a Founders Day ceremony will be held at 10:30 a.m., followed by a community foodfest at 11 a.m. in Laie.
Its basketball team plays Hawaii Pacific University at 7:30 p.m.
On Sunday, BYUH will hold an alumni musical at 7 p.m.
BYUH serves more than 2,000 students from 50 states and more than 60 countries. It offers undergraduate degrees in more than 20 programs.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
High schooler arrested after teacher threatened
Police arrested a Nanakuli High School student yesterday for allegedly threatening to harm his teacher after being caught cheating on a test.The teacher caught the student cheating on an exam at 10:44 a.m., police said.
When the teacher confronted him, he walked out of class and told the teacher he was going to get a gun and "whack" him.
The boy was booked for first- degree terroristic threatening.
Waikiki apartment fire causes $33,500 damage
An apartment fire forced police to close a section of Royal Hawaiian Avenue between Kuhio and Kalakaua avenues for about 45 minutes yesterday.Four companies from the Waikiki and Pawaa stations responded to the 5:28 p.m. alarm at the Waikolu Way apartment building. The incident involving unit 301 was reported under control at 5:36 p.m.
No injuries were reported, Battalion Chief Gordon Mahiko said. The unit contained only a refrigerator and couch, he added.
The fire, which caused $33,500 in estimated damage to the structure and contents, is believed to have started in the area of the refrigerator, Mahiko said.
Police still hunting 4 in Pearl City shooting
A man shot Tuesday night at his home in Pearl City was upgraded from guarded to fair condition at Queen's Hospital.Police were still searching this morning for the gunman and three others who were seen running away from the house.
