Ex-Diplomat's son pleads not guilty

A Honolulu man charged with embezzling $300,000 from a local law firm thought he had immunity from arrest and prosecution because his father was a Philippine diplomat, the man's lawyer said yesterday.

“;He thought he had an A-1 visa, diplomatic visa,”; said Michael Green.

Nigel J. Salmingo is facing multiple counts of first- and second-degree theft, money laundering and forgery for allegedly ripping off his former employer, Winer Meheula & Devens, when he worked as the law firm's office manager from 2007 to 2009.

Federal and New York state and local law enforcement officers arrested Salmingo this month at a midtown Manhattan address. They extradited him to Hawaii this week.

Salmingo pleaded not guilty to the charges yesterday. He remains in custody in lieu of $500,000 bail.

His father, Walter, was consul at the Philippine Consulate General in Hawaii in the 1990s. He has since retired.

5 of 6 suspects caught

Police are looking for a sixth suspect in a home invasion robbery Sunday in Palolo.

Police captured five of the six suspects tied to the burglary, robbery and kidnapping of seven residents of the Palolo house, the last being arrested yesterday morning.

The sixth suspect, who is at large, remained outside the home during the robbery, police said.

A 19-year-old Tantalus man was arrested at 6:15 a.m. yesterday on suspicion of first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary.

The men allegedly broke into the home at 2001 10th Ave. at 3:30 a.m. Sunday and robbed the residents, who were asleep at the time.

Police arrested two men Wednesday, and another two men—Justin Lono, 28, of Tantalus and Jordan Artuyo, 18—were indicted yesterday on charges of first-degree robbery, first-degree burglary and kidnapping.

The two had some of the stolen merchandise nearby when police caught them in the bushes on a ridge near the home, said Vickie Kapp, deputy prosecutor.

Kapp said Artuyo brandished a shotgun during the robbery and used it to hit one of the occupants on the head.

Bystanders nab suspect

Witnesses to a purse snatching took action Wednesday and chased down and held a suspect in Waikele until police arrived.

Police said a 17-year-old boy shoved a 24-year-old woman from behind and grabbed her purse, with the strap still wrapped around her arm.

The suspect fled with the purse, but witnesses captured and held him until officers arrived and arrested the suspect at about 4:15 p.m., police said.

Cliff fall injures hiker

A man in his 20s was seriously injured yesterday afternoon after falling about 30 feet from a cliff at Makapuu.

The man and two companions had been climbing up a cliff after picking opihi in waters below the Makapuu Lighthouse, when he fell shortly before 5 p.m.

The man landed on a ledge below the lighthouse, receiving head and leg injuries, a fire official said.

An Emergency Services Department spokesman said the man was taken in serious condition to a trauma center.

Fire and Ocean Safety personnel, after stabilizing him, helped the man off the ledge using a rescue harness.

Big Isle man, 38, is missing

Big Island police are asking for help in finding a missing Mountain View man who requires medical attention.

John Kessock, 38, was last seen on May 18 when he flew to Honolulu. Police said he may have had plans to fly to the mainland.

Kessock is described as 6 feet tall, 190 pounds, with short brown hair and blue eyes. Police said he has what is described as a “;twisted thumb.”;

Police said Kessock has a condition that requires medical attention.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the county Police Department's nonemergency line at 935-3311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.