Island Fence president arrested in kickback probe

Advertiser Staff

Law enforcement officials this morning executed a search warrant at Island Fence in Kaka'ako and arrested its president, Eric Kawasugi, in what the state said was part of an ongoing investigation into alleged kickbacks to contractors at Honolulu International Airport.

Kawasugi was booked at the District Court cellblock and released pending further investigation.

A news release from the state attorney general's office said Kawasugi, 52, is under investigation for theft, forgery and conspiracy to commit theft.

State authorities earlier arrested six people in connection with an investigation into an alleged cash-for-contracts kickback scheme at the airport.

The investigation centers on millions of dollars in airport construction and repair contracts awarded by airport personnel to private firms since 1995. A group of contractors are alleged to have inflated bills for airport work and kicked-back cash and other gratuities to airport personnel in the scheme.