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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 10:00 a.m., Thursday, February 27, 2003

Exec's wife pleads no contest in Harris case

By Johnny Brannon
Advertiser Staff Writer

A woman who funneled money from a top Honolulu engineering firm to Mayor Jeremy Harris' campaign committee pleaded no contest today to a misdemeanor violation of the state campaign spending law.

June Takushi, wife of SSFM International vice president Lee Takushi, was fined $1,000 but will face no jail time if she is not charged with a new offense for one year.

Prosecutors said June Takushi helped circumvent state limits on campaign contributions by funneling at least $24,000 from SSFM to Harris through six relatives and friends.

"I think it's rather disgraceful that people would submit their family members to the risk of prosecution in order to violate the campaign spending law," deputy city prosecutor Randal Lee said.

June Takushi's attorney, Earle Partington, said her role had been minor.

"The money was from her husband's company," Partington said. "What she did, she did at the request of her husband."

Deputy city prosecutor Randal Lee said Lee Takushi remains under investigation for his role in the scheme, and that others connected to the company may also face prosecution. None of the people who gave money from June Takushi to Harris' campaign will be prosecuted, however.

SSFM's president, Michael Matsumoto, recently pleaded no contest to a felony money laundering charge and a misdemeanor stemming for his involvement in the scheme.

He has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in exchange for a recommendation that he be spared a prison term. Three more people connected to SSFM have also been charged with misdemeanors. Harris' spokeswoman could not be reached for comment this morning.

Reach Johnny Brannon at jbrannon@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8070.