Campaign case
heads for trial
A Honolulu attorney for Food Pantry Ltd., who was indicted last month for allegedly making illegal campaign donations to Mayor Jeremy Harris, pleaded not guilty today in Circuit Court and asked for a jury trial.
Edward Chun, corporate counsel for Food Pantry and affiliate chain Foodland Super Market Ltd., did not attend the proceeding this morning. His lawyer Dale Lee asked that his client remain free on bail, which was granted.
Chun was indicted May 21 on a misdemeanor charge of using false names on campaign contributions and exceeding the contribution limits for individuals.
He is accused of advising three employees of Food Pantry to donate a total of $9,000 to Harris' 1996 and 2000 mayoral campaigns, not in the name of Food Pantry, but in their names. Food Pantry later reimbursed them, according to prosecutors.
Mayoral campaign donations that exceed $4,000 from a single individual or company exceed the state's campaign contribution limit.
Chun, not Food Pantry, was charged because the grocery chain was acting on his advice, prosecutors have said.
An unidentified Harris campaign officer allegedly had solicited Chun for contributions.
Circuit Judge Dan Kochi set the trial for the week of July 21.