Posted on: Saturday, December 11, 2004

Judge orders two men to write letters to editors

Advertiser Staff

Two men were fined $4,000 each and ordered to make public apologies by writing letters to the editors of Honolulu's two daily newspapers, after pleading no contest yesterday to charges stemming from illegal campaign contributions to Mayor Jeremy Harris.

Rudolph Mina Jr., 51, and Edward K. Harada, 72, admitted to circumventing state political contribution limits by steering money to Harris' campaign committee under false names in 2000.

District Judge Leslie Hayashi granted requests that let defendants clear their criminal records if they abide by conditions similar to probation. But she levied the fines and ordered them to apologize to the court, and to the public through the letters.

Hayashi acknowledged that there is no assurance the letters would be printed in The Advertiser or Star-Bulletin, but said public apologies were important because of the nature of the crimes. Both men told Hayashi they deeply regretted their actions.

Prosecutors did not specify the amount of the illegal donations, but defense attorney Renee Yuen said they were less than $10,000 from each defendant.

The charges were the latest in a series over the past two years. Harris has not been charged with wrongdoing, and his attorney said he didn't solicit illegal donations.