City worker indicted on bribery, theft rap

Brian Hamasaki is accused of tampering with car registrations

An Oahu grand jury has indicted a 50-year-old man who is accused of fraudulently updating motor vehicle registration forms.

Brian Keith Hamasaki, a customer service representative with the Satellite City Hall Division of the Customer Services Department, was indicted yesterday on charges of bribery, second-degree theft and tampering with a government record.

The city was deprived of thousands of dollars as a result of Hamasaki pocketing the money for filing fraudulent motor vehicle registration records, said Deputy Prosecutor Chris Van Marter outside Circuit Judge Derrick Chan's courtroom.

In April, two confidential informants approached the Prosecutor's Office and said they were being extorted by Hamasaki for bribe money they were expected to pay for updating fraudulent vehicle registration paperwork, Van Marter said before Chan.

Van Marter said it was discovered that Hamasaki was fraudulently updating motor vehicle registrations for more than 15 years involving other people and businesses.

According to a court document, Hamasaki also fraudulently updated commercial motor vehicle registrations such as trucks and trailers.

On May 28, a sting operation was conducted in which an informant and an undercover police officer met Hamasaki at Subway Sandwiches and Salads at Stadium Mall. At that time, he allegedly provided fraudulent paperwork for three vehicles -- an 18-wheeler, a tractor-trailer and a Honda motor vehicle -- in return for $1,000 in cash, which he pocketed.

Police arrested Hamasaki. He was placed on administrative leave as officials conducted an investigation.

Van Marter said it would cost more than $2,000 to renew the three vehicles with the city. Generally, Hamasaki charged half of the legitimate fee to fraudulently update registrations, he said. The weight of the vehicle is used to calculate the amount for annual registration fees.

Van Marter declined to say how many people or businesses Hamasaki accepted bribes from. Additional indictments for Hamasaki and others are expected to follow.

Jeff Coelho, director of the Customer Services Department, declined comment, saying it's a criminal matter.

Attorney William Jameson, who is representing Hamasaki, also declined comment.

Hamasaki's bail was set at $25,000. He is also facing drug-related charges in an unrelated case.