DENNIS ODA / DODA@STARBULLETIN.COM At district court yesterday, Lisa-Katharine Otsuka, center, was flanked by her attorneys, Paul Cunney, left, and Victor Bakke.

City harassing Harris
witness, lawyer claims

Lisa-Katharine Otsuka’s lawyer says
the city is using high bail to force
testimony about Harris

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By Rick Daysog
rdaysog@starbulletin.com

City prosecutors are engaged in a campaign of "continual harassment" against a witness in the grand jury investigation into Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris' political campaign, according to the witness's attorneys.

Paul Cunney, lawyer for former Maui beauty queen Lisa-Katharine Otsuka, claimed that prosecutors have dredged up a 3-year-old criminal case to force her to testify about the Harris campaign.

"We think this type of indictment may be to pressure her to come up with more information that she really doesn't have," Cunney said. "Either that or the investigation of the grand jury hasn't gone anywhere. Maybe this is saving face to come up with something by way of an indictment."

An Oahu grand jury indicted Otsuka last week for second-degree theft and check forgery. The indictment alleged that Otsuka stole more than $12,000 by forging eight of her former employers' checks in 1999.

The charges came after the grand jury indicted Otsuka in September for allegedly stealing $3,000 from a nonprofit dance group in Wahiawa.

Otsuka appeared in Honolulu District Court with Cunney yesterday where she surrendered to authorities and posted $45,000 bail for the theft and forgery charges. Her arraignment and plea have been set for Thursday.

Cunney said he believes that prosecutors took evidence gathered in the Harris grand jury and improperly brought it before a separate grand jury that indicted Otsuka.

He also said prosecutors are using a high bail to force Otsuka to testify. In addition to the $45,000 bail for the theft and forgery charges, Otsuka had to come up with $50,000 bail for the previous indictment. The bail for second-degree theft is typically set at $2,000, Cunney said. The $50,000 bail is more typical for suspects in vehicular manslaughter cases, he said.

"They've put $90,000 on her head for two white-collar cases," Cunney said.

The Prosecutor's Office declined comment.

Prosecutors are investigating more than $300,000 paid to Otsuka by a vendor for the Harris campaign. Of that money, $75,000 originated from the Harris campaign, said people familiar with the investigation.

Otsuka said the ordeal has forced her to sell many of her personal belongings to make ends meet. But she said she has had major support from her friends and family.

Court records show Otsuka was sued for eviction after allegedly failing to make rent payments on her Ewa home. "I'm just wordless as to how it feels to be in this position," she said.