Harris witness A key witness in a grand jury investigation into Mayor Jeremy Harris campaign plans will invoke her constitutional right against self-incrimination.
will take the Fifth
By Rick Daysog
rdaysog@starbulletin.comLisa-Katherine Otsuka went before the investigative panel this morning but her attorney Paul Cunney said the 32-year-old former Ewa resident will invoke her Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination, according to her attorney Paul Cunney.
Cunney said he will attempt to work out an immunity deal with the City Prosecutor's office and federal authorities before Otsuka testifies before the grand jury. Cunney said he was not aware of any federal investigation into his client.
In addition to Otsuka, Chris Parsons, an attorney for the Harris campaign, appeared before the grand jury, which is being directed by City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle's office.
The secret panel also is expected to hear testimony from several city contractors and their employees about political contributions to Harris' 2000 re-election campaign.
The prosecutor's office had no comment. Harris campaign officials have denied wrongdoing and Harris has said he has no knowledge of Otsuka.
Otsuka, 32, was subpoenaed to appear before the grand jury last month but declined to appear. She was later arrested for contempt of court.
She also was indicted by an Oahu grand jury last month for allegedly stealing $3,000 from a Wahiawa nonprofit. That indictment came after the former Miss Maui was arrested on suspicion of promoting prostitution in August.
People contacted by Carlisle's office said that the prosecutor is looking into thousands of dollars in payments to Otsuka from Campaign Service Inc., a local polling and public relations firm headed by Harry Mattson and Norma Wong, two longtime supporters of former Gov. John Waihee. Mattson, a former Harris campaign spokesman, has denied wrongdoing.
In addition to Otsuka, the grand jury has subpoenaed employees of R.M. Towill Inc., Park Engineering and Thermal Engineering Corp.