Illegal donor seeks
extension to pay fine
An engineering executive who was fined a record $303,000 for making illegal political donations to prominent isle Democrats is asking for a three-year extension to pay his fine, citing financial hardship.
Michael Matsumoto, chief executive of SSFM International Inc., is asking the state Campaign Spending Commission to give him six years instead of three to pay his fine. The request could reduce Matsumoto's monthly payments of $8,500 by half.
Matsumoto referred all questions to attorney Howard Luke, who was not available for comment. Bob Watada, the commission's executive director, declined comment.
Matsumoto's request came up during the five-member commission's monthly meeting on Jan. 14. During the meeting, board members took no action on the matter because it was not placed on the agenda. But Watada told the commission that he is looking in to the matter.
Matsumoto made his first $8,500 monthly payment on Dec. 29.
In October, Matsumoto agreed to pay the $303,000 fine over a three-year period to settle the commission's allegations that dozens of people linked to SSFM funneled more than $400,000 in illegal political donations to Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris, former Gov. Ben Cayetano, ex-Maui Mayor James "Kimo" Apana, former Honolulu City Councilman Arnold Morgado and former Honolulu Mayor Frank Fasi.
The commission investigators also alleged that Matsumoto controlled a special checking account that advanced tens of thousands of dollars to many of the donors.
Last January, Matsumoto pleaded no contest to criminal charges of money laundering and making political donations under false names.
Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto ordered Matsumoto to do 300 hours of community service and to pay $15,000 to the state Crime Victims Compensation Fund. But Sakamoto also gave Matsumoto the opportunity to have his case dismissed if he stays out of trouble for five years.
SSFM is one of the state's largest engineering firms and is a major contractor for the city. It served as the city's consultant for the $45 million Central Oahu Regional Park project, which has incurred millions of dollars in cost overruns.