Ex-trustee Wong's case dismissed

Advertiser Staff

The Hawai'i attorney general's office today dismissed the remaining two criminal cases against former Bishop Estate trustee Richard "Dickie" Wong and developer Jeffrey Stone.

"We disagree with the Supreme Court's per curiam decision last Friday," the office said in a statement. "On the other hand, because of the decision and other circumstances, we have decided to dismiss both cases."

The Hawai'i Supreme Court on Friday ruled unanimously that Circuit Judge Michael Town acted properly in a series of rulings starting in 1999 when he threw out theft indictments against Wong and former Bishop Estate trustee Henry Peters involving a Hawai'i Kai land deal.

In addition, the court affirmed the dismissal of theft cases against developer Jeffrey Stone, also ending any efforts to prosecute him.

State prosecutors were continuing to appeal Town's dismissal of a perjury indictment brought against Wong for allegedly lying to an O'ahu grand jury while testifying about the land deal in question.

Both Wong's perjury case and Stone's theft case are pending a review by the Supreme Court of Appeals. The attorney general's office said it "will be taking action immediately to dismiss them."