By William Cole
Advertiser Staff Writer
A farmer who subleased land from Marshall Ige testified that the former state senator gave him a week’s notice in June 1999 to come up with $7,000 in advance rent — even though he was paid up for another year.
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| A hearing on whether to try ex-lawmaker Marshall Ige on theft and extortion charges resumes Wednesday.
Jeff Widener • The Honolulu Advertiser |
Hanh Lam, who grew herbs and fruit trees on land near Punalu‘u, said he turned over $10,000 in 1998 for 17 months’ rent after Ige told him to pay up or some other farmer would.
"He (Ige) said that other people would come to rent that farm and we would have to get out," Lam said through an interpreter.
The rent was supposed to extend through June of last year — but then an additional $7,000 was requested in June 1999, Lam said.
Afraid he would lose his crop, the farmer said he cobbled together the money with help from friends.
On cross-examination by deputy public defender Rick Sing, Lam said Ige never used the word "eviction" when making the rent request.
Lam’s testimony came yesterday at a hearing in District Court to determine if probable cause exists to try Ige on charges of second-degree theft and second-degree extortion for allegedly threatening to evict Lam if he didn’t pay the $7,000.
Ige also faces charges of first-degree theft, attempting to evade taxes and money laundering stemming from separate accusations.
Lam and Paul Sakaida, an investigator with the attorney general’s office, were the first two witnesses called to testify by deputy attorney general Kurt Spohn at the hearing before Judge Russel Nagata. The hearing continues Wednesday.
Sakaida said at about the time Ige made the $7,000 rent demand, Ige was $16,800 behind in payments to the land’s California owner, Thomas Shea.
Ige leased 50 acres, and subleased that land to Lam and other Vietnamese farmers, before surrendering it on June 25, 1999, according to Sakaida.
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