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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, May 29, 2002

City acts to replace eight liquor inspectors

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

The city began interviewing applicants yesterday to replace the eight current and former Honolulu Liquor Commission inspectors who were indicted last week on federal bribery charges.

Seventeen people, mostly former Honolulu police officers, applied for the temporary positions over the weekend, city spokeswoman Carol Costa said. The interviews are being conducted by the Liquor Commission staff and the names of the finalists will be forwarded tomorrow to commission administrator Wallace Weatherwax, who will select the replacements, Costa said.

The eight emergency hires will be under contract for 89 days and they could be extended for another 89 days if needed, Costa said. They will be paid about $2,800 a month.

Costa said the former law enforcement officers will go through a brief training period and begin work immediately. She said the applicants came forward after Deputy Police Chief Robert Au was asked to put the word out that the city was seeking temporary hires.

"Because they have this law enforcement background, the training will mainly consist of familiarization with the liquor laws and generally what to spot and what problems to look for at the various establishments," she said.

The temporary hires are sorely needed because the indictments of the liquor inspectors placed a burden on an already depleted investigative staff. The six current inspectors were placed on administrative leave.

Mayor Jeremy Harris has suggested turning over the commission's enforcement duties to the Honolulu Police Department. But Police Chief Lee Donohue criticized the idea and said the department doesn't have the staff to do the commission's work.

Meanwhile, City Councilman John Henry Felix has asked city Managing Director Ben Lee to form a panel to review the operations of the Liquor Commission and develop "safeguards against corruption" within the agency.

Felix said the panel would consist of the managing director, the Liquor Commission chairman and administrator, the police chief, the Department of Human Services director, and a City Council member. Costa said Lee is "open to all ideas" and will take Felix's suggestion under advisement.

Felix said he wants the panel in place as soon as possible.

"What I'm merely calling for is an objective review of the commission and it's workings and to see how we can at least prevent these sorts of egregious things from taking place: bribery, extortion, paybacks," Felix said.

Last week, retired inspector supervisors David K.H. Lee and Harvey Hiranaka, along with inspectors Arthur M. Andres, Collin M. Oshiro and William B. Richardson Jr., pleaded not guilty to the charges that they took bribes from hostess bars. Inspectors Samuel K.Y. Ho and Kenneth L. Wright are expected to make their initial court appearance within a week.

Eduardo C. Mina also was indicted and is believed to be in the Philippines. U.S. Attorney Ed Kubo said his office will "make every attempt to extradite (Mina) back, if he doesn't come back voluntarily."

Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.