Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
CHECKING OUT
CRAIG T. KOJIMA / CKOJIMA@ STARBULLETIN.COM
At Foodland Beretania yesterday, Lt. Gov. James Aiona helped unveil a check for the total amount of donations raised during Foodland's annual Give Aloha campaign. Those behind the check include, from left, Foodland President Abel Porter, Kitty Sullivan Wo, Chief Executive Jenai Wall, Roger Wall, Aiona, and the Rev. Dan Chun of First Presbyterian Church. The money raised will help nearly 700 Hawaii nonprofit organizations.
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Ex-hotelier convicted of $71,000 in fraud
The former president of a small Waikiki hotel has been found guilty of bilking Bank of Hawaii of $71,000 in fake credit card transactions, the U.S. Attorney's Office said yesterday.Arthur Jeremiah, 49, of Waianae, was convicted of 29 counts of bank fraud and one count of access device fraud for the scheme, carried out in early 2000.
A federal jury spent two hours deliberating the case Friday after a weeklong trial.
According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Jeremiah was once president of Hotel Honolulu Pacific Corp., which ran the former Hotel Honolulu on Kaiolu Street in Waikiki. While operating the hotel, Jeremiah held Bank of Hawaii accounts that allowed him to submit MasterCard and Visa transactions, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
Jeremiah was evicted from the hotel in June 1999 after failing to pay rent, and the Bank of Hawaii accounts were terminated, the U.S. Attorney's Office said.
In January 2000, Jeremiah applied to reopen his bank accounts, federal officials said, falsely indicating he was operating a new hotel. He withdrew $71,000 in phony credit card transactions deposited into his account, the U.S. Attorney's office said.
Jeremiah is in custody awaiting a March 22 sentencing before U.S. District Judge Helen Gillmor. He faces up to 30 years in prison on each of the bank fraud charges and up to 10 years in prison on the other charge.
Car-rental firm cited for failing to file taxes
The Department of Taxation has filed a complaint against Ferrari Adventures Inc. and one of its officers for failing to file the company's annual general excise tax returns for fiscal years 1999 to 2001.The complaint also names Jorisa Colivas, vice president, secretary and director of the Waikiki car-rental business.
The corporation and Colivas were also charged with failing to file its annual state motor vehicle and tour vehicle surcharge tax return for fiscal years 1999 to 2001.
Stephen Pingree, attorney for the company and Colivas, declined to comment.
HECO repairs to close 2 Piikoi Street lanes
Hawaiian Electric Co. repairs are expected to close the two middle lanes on Piikoi Street between Kinau and Lunalilo streets for a couple of days.The lane closure was scheduled to start at 8:30 a.m. today and last until about noon Thursday. HECO officials said the repair work on an underground cable may shift to the two right-hand lanes tomorrow and Thursday, in which case the two left lanes will be available for motorists.
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[Taking Notice]
>> The Hawaii Primary Care Association has received and administered a $10,000 grant from the Kekumuola Fund of the Hawaii Community Foundation for the maternity care team member who provides emotional and physical comfort. Part of the funds were used to purchase "Ina May's Guide to Childbirth," which has been donated to the Hawaii State Library to benefit the public.>> The Windward Oahu branch of the American Association of University Women has elected Mary Ann Robinett, president; Sue Sneiderman and Kathy Jaycox, program vice presidents; Dorothy Conway, membership vice president; Mary Gomes, secretary; Beverly O'Sullivan, treasurer; and Nancy Rowe, Grace Craver and Flo Hayslip, counselors.
>> Aldrich A. Ricalde, a pre-medicine major at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, was one of six recipients of the $5,000 Fleet Reserve Association scholarship awards.
>> Norman Minehira, principal of Leilehua High School, has been named a finalist for the 2004 MetLife/National Association of Secondary School Principals of the Year award. The six finalists each receive a $2,500 grant. The winners will be announced during the Principals' Institute convention in next month.
Taking Notice runs on Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays. Please send items to City Desk, Star-Bulletin, 500 Ala Moana, Suite 7-210, Honolulu, HI 96813.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffFugitive nabbed after MidWeek cover story
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department announced the first arrest this year from a front page of MidWeek featuring a wanted fugitive.Sun Pangorang, 18, was arrested at 2:35 p.m. yesterday on a domestic violence warrant after he allegedly beat his girlfriend and then illegally took custody of his 3-month-old daughter. After his arrest, police located his daughter and said she is now safely in the custody of family members.
Pangorang is featured on the cover of this week's issue of MidWeek as part of an article about Honolulu's wanted fugitives.
Anyone with information about the fugitives featured in MidWeek or any other wanted fugitives may call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
HONOLULU
Pedestrian killed in Kaimuki identified
The Honolulu medical examiner identified an 83-year-old man who died yesterday after he was hit by a car while trying to cross Harding Avenue as Thomas Hashimoto of Kaimuki.Police said Hashimoto was crossing the road next to the Market City Foodland Super Market about 7:27 a.m. when he was struck by a car traveling Koko Head on Harding. He was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition where he later died.
The driver of the car was not injured.
The man was not in a crosswalk when he was hit, police said. Glare from the sun may have been a factor, police said. This is the 60th traffic-related fatality on Oahu so far this year, compared with 48 at the same time last year.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Car crash sparks brush fire on Big Isle
WAIKOLOA >> A one-car crash sparked a brush fire that burned more than 100 acres and took several hours to contain, Hawaii County fire officials said yesterday.The car ran off the roadway near Puu Anahulu on Sunday about 12:30 p.m. and caught on fire, fire officials said.
The lone occupant in the car suffered minor injuries and was taken to North Hawaii Community Hospital.
More than a dozen county and state vehicles and two helicopters were used to battle the blaze on state conservation brush land.
The fire was contained at 9 p.m. and extinguished at 10:38 p.m., officials said.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
