Posted on: Friday, April 20, 2001

Former HPD employees plead not guilty to theft, bribery

By William Cole
Advertiser Courts Writer

Two former civilian employees of the Honolulu Police Department pleaded not guilty yesterday to charges they received overpriced auto repair parts used by the department and pocketed kickbacks — including trips to Las Vegas — in return.

Victor Hasebe, an automotive equipment superintendent, and Winston Owan, a police department storekeeper, entered the pleas before Circuit Judge Richard Perkins.

Each is charged with one count of first-degree theft, two counts of second-degree theft, money laundering, three counts of bribery and unlawful ownership or operation of a business.

Owan's attorney, Richard Hoke, said his client denies "playing favorites" with parts vendors, and denies taking bribes.

City Deputy Prosecutor Randal Lee said the two men arranged with Larry's Auto Parts in Kaimuki to substantially overprice goods sold to the city over a six-year period to maintain police vehicles.

Owan denies prices were inflated, Hoke said, adding that price schedules will be examined.

Hasebe's attorney, Clifford Hunt, meanwhile, said his client is being "whipsawed" by overly ambitious police detectives.

"When everything comes out at trial, essentially what the jury will find is just a wisp of smoke and no fire," he said.

Hunt noted the department's finance division approved purchases — but no alarm bells previously were rung.

The two men are charged with stealing approximately $35,000 from the city. Motor oil, transmission fluid, oil and transmission filters, air filters, spark plugs and other items were purchased at inflated prices, prosecutors said.

In return, the parts store provided Hasebe and Owan cash, parts and trips to Las Vegas, Lee said.

The two men also are accused of falsifying invoices to have the city pay for about $10,000 worth of high-performance auto parts taken for personal use.

Owan was fired March 21, Hoke said. Hasebe retired last year. Representatives of Larry's Auto Parts could not be reached for comment.