Alleged sweatshop boss enters plea of not guilty
A Korean national who allegedly ran a sweatshop in American Samoa pleaded not guilty to additional charges he violated the civil rights of his Chinese and Korean workers.Kil Soo Lee appeared yesterday in U.S. District Court to answer charges filed last week in a superseding indictment. Lee and two others are accused of conspiring to enslave Chinese and Vietnamese workers between March 1999 and January 2001 at the Daewoosa Samoa Inc. garment factory.
At least two of the workers were seriously injured during attacks that allegedly occurred under Lee's direction. Workers were accused of disobeying orders or complaining about the work conditions.
Trial in the case is set for Feb. 19 before U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway. Two other co-defendants who have pleaded not guilty to the charges will also go to trial.
One of them, Virginia Soliai, was released from custody yesterday to live with a sister in California pending trial. Two others have pleaded guilty.
Architect fined $4,500 for failure to pay taxes
A Honolulu architect pleaded no contest yesterday for failing to file his general excise tax returns from 1996 to 1998.James A. Schmit was granted a deferral of his no-contest plea and fined $4,500 -- $1,500 per count, under a plea agreement. He had faced up to $75,000 in fines and up to two years in prison had he been convicted.
Oahu attorney resigns in face of allegations
Former Honolulu Attorney S. Jay Matsumaru has resigned from practicing law in lieu of discipline. The Hawaii Supreme Court granted his request to resign, which is equivalent to disbarment, effective Aug. 27.
Matsumaru, 47, a graduate of the University of Hawaii William H. Richardson School of Law, was admitted to the Hawaii bar in 1988. The allegations of misconduct against him are confidential.
Corrections and clarifications
>> Orcas, also called killer whales, were spotted March 29 off Port Allen, Kauai, according to the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Marine Sanctuary. An article on Page A3 Tuesday on a rare orca sighting off Lanai said incorrectly that the last recorded sighting in Hawaiian waters was March 1997, six miles off Kaneohe Bay. There were also other orca sightings on March 20, 2000, west of Niihau's Kamalino Bay, and March 30, 1998, off of Kailua-Kona near Honokohau Harbor.
The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Publisher and Editor in Chief John Flanagan at 529-4748 or email him at jflanagan@starbulletin.com. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staff
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
EAST HONOLULU
Police on the lookout for stolen lawn statues
Honolulu police are looking for about $20,000 worth of stolen lawn statues taken from various East Honolulu homes. The statues are mostly made of bronze, and police say there have been at least seven such theft cases reported since Aug. 11.Police said thieves have hit the Diamond Head area, taking such items as bronze cranes, ducks and porcelain vases. Police are asking the public to be on the lookout for such items.
Anyone with information about these cases may call Detective Howard Ishida at 529-3035.
Anonymous calls are taken at the CrimeStoppers Hotline, 955-8300, *CRIME on cellular phones.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Public's help sought in solving possible arson
Kona Criminal Investigation Section detectives are seeking the public's help in solving a suspected arson that occurred April 12.Fire and police units had responded to an 11 p.m. call about a structure fire at a home on Manini Beach Road in Napoopoo, South Kona.
Police said the fire was started under suspicious circumstances and is being investigated as an arson.
Anyone with information about the fire is asked to call Detective Albert Pacheco of the Kona Criminal Investigation Section at 326-4230 or the police nonemergency number at 935-3311 after normal working hours.
LEEWARD OAHU
Phosphoric acid dumped near a Waianae school
Several gallons of phosphoric acid were dumped on the street fronting Waianae Intermediate School and public housing next door sometime this week. But by the time a manager from the housing called the Honolulu Fire Department, the acid had dried up.Members of HFD's Hazardous Material Team 2 found an overturned 5-gallon container of a product used for cleaning metals at 85-250 Ala Hema St. about 10:30 yesterday.
They said the acid appeared to have run along the street and reacted with the concrete lining the roadway.
Aiea woman arrested for assaulting husband
Honolulu police have arrested an Aiea woman for assaulting her husband with a knife.Police said the couple got into an argument Tuesday during which the suspect punched, slapped and scratched the victim.
Police said the suspect then grabbed a knife and swung it at the victim, cutting him on the left shoulder. Two witnesses then grabbed the victim and disarmed her.
