Debt drove Mirikitani, Honolulu City Councilman Andy Mirikitani was more than $120,000 in debt in the summer of 1999 when he offered to give two of his city aides bonuses in exchange for kickbacks, Assistant U.S. Attorney Michael Seabright said this morning during opening statements in Mirikitani's corruption trial.
prosecution claims
The city councilman is
on trial for demanding
kickbacks from aidesBy Gordon Pang
Star-BulletinSeabright, outlining a possible motive for the bribery, theft, extortion, witness tampering and wire fraud charges against the councilman, said Mirikitani was in the midst of a civil lawsuit involving his family estate. By August of 1999, Mirikitani's unpaid bills to law firm of Torkildson Katz Fonseca Moore & Hetherington led to a letter to Mirikitani telling him to "pay up or we will have to withdraw from your case."
"This is a case about debt," Seabright said this morning. "This is a case about greed. This is a case about deception."
U.S. attorneys say Mirikitani is the highest-ranking politician in Hawaii to be indicted while still in office on federal charges.
He is accused of receiving more than $6,000 in kickbacks by giving two employees bonuses on the condition that they give a portion back.
Mirikitani denies there were kickbacks, arguing that he routinely has given bonuses at the end of fiscal years when money is available in his salaries account and he believes there are aides deserving of them.
His defense attorney was to present opening statements later today.
Mirikitani's girlfriend, Sharron Bynum, is a co-defendant in the case.
If found guilty of all counts, Mirikitani could be sentenced to as much as 65 years in prison and be fined as much as $1.5 million.
U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor is presiding. The case is expected to last about two weeks.
Mirikitani, 45, has been on the City Council since 1990. He represents the fifth district, which includes the Manoa, Makiki, McCully-Moiliili and Ala Moana neighborhoods.