Grand jury investigating
Harris’ campaign slated
to meet Oct. 17

Witness Otsuka is to appear
before the panel on that date

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By Rick Daysog
rdaysog@starbulletin

The Oahu grand jury investigating Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris' political campaign will meet Oct. 17 to hear testimony from a witness who was arrested for failing to show up at last week's hearing.

The 13-member secret panel subpoenaed Ewa resident Lisa Katherine Otsuka to testify at last week's session, but the 32-year-old Otsuka did not appear on advice of her attorney, leading to her arrest Monday for contempt of court.

Otsuka's attorney, Michael Green, said his client plans to invoke her constitutional right against self-incrimination unless she is offered immunity.

Green believes that the prosecutor's office is attempting to tie Otsuka in with people in the Harris campaign, but he stressed that his client does not know the mayor. Harris said he does not know Otsuka.

"There are allegations that she may know some of the people in the Democratic Party," Green said.

The Star-Bulletin reported yesterday that the prosecutor's office has been looking into Otsuka's alleged link to a $31,000 payment in May 2000 by the Harris campaign.

In its disclosures with the state Campaign Spending Commission, the Harris campaign said it sent the payment, in the form of a Bank of Hawaii cashier's check, to a vendor known as Campaign Service Inc.

Campaign Service is a trade name registered to a company headed by Harris backers Harry Mattson and Norma Wong, state business records show.

People familiar with the investigation said the prosecutor's office wants to know if any of the money went to Otsuka, who is not affiliated with Campaign Service. Wong said she does not know Otsuka and declined further comment. The prosecutor's office declined comment.

In addition to Otsuka, the grand jury has subpoenaed several past and current city officials as well as dozens of employees of city contractors. Due to time constraints, many of the witnesses did not testify last week and may be recalled at next month's session.