Witness in Harris probe indicted
By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer
A high-profile witness who has refused to testify in the investigation of Mayor Jeremy Harris' campaign finances and the awarding of city contracts was indicted by an O'ahu grand jury yesterday on unrelated theft and forgery charges.
Advertiser library photo • Oct. 7, 2002
Lisa-Katharine Otsuka, 32, was charged with second-degree theft and eight counts of second-degree forgery for allegedly stealing about $12,000 from a car dealership she worked for in 1999.
Lisa-Katharine Otsuka was charged with second-degree theft and second-degree forgery.
It was the second time Otsuka has been indicted in a theft case since she was subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury investigating the Harris campaign.
She has opted to remain silent and is seeking immunity from prosecution in state and federal courts.
Otsuka was charged in September with stealing about $3,000 from a dance group's fund-raising event, and is free on $50,000 bail. She was also arrested in August, but not charged, on suspicion of money laundering, promoting prostitution, and illegally operating a business.
Otsuka's attorney, Victor Bakke, said the latest charges reflect a continued attempt by prosecutors to force her to testify in the Harris probe.
"They're making it as difficult as possible for her," he said. "They're just putting the squeeze on her. I think they've hit a wall in the Harris investigation and they don't want to walk away with nothing."
Jim Fulton, assistant to City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle, declined to say why charges were pursued three years after the theft and forgery allegedly occurred. He said Otsuka had worked as a bookkeeper for the car dealership.
"She was supposed to pay certain bills; she then forged documents and didn't pay the bills," Fulton said.
Otsuka is an acquaintance of a consultant who worked on Harris' 2000 reelection campaign, and investigators have questioned whether she improperly received campaign money through him.
Otsuka and Harris have said they don't know each other, and Harris campaign officials have said Otsuka had no formal role with Harris' 2000 reelection campaign or aborted campaign for governor.
Several top city officials and employees of city contractors that contributed heavily to Harris have appeared before the grand jury in recent months. Harris has said there is no link between political donations and the awarding of contracts.
Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.
