Posted on: Tuesday, May 18, 2004

Verdict expected in bribery trial of liquor inspectors

Advertiser Staff

A federal court jury is scheduled to announce its verdict at 9 this morning in the trial of two former Honolulu Liquor Commission investigators accused of taking cash from hostess bar owners in exchange for not enforcing the law.

Harvey Hiranaka and Eduardo Mina were among eight investigators indicted by a federal grand jury two years ago on charges of taking cash bribes from hostess bar owners between October 2000 and December 2001. The indictment alleged one of the state's largest corruption cases involving a government agency. The alleged bribes ranged from $40 to $1,080 and totaled more than $11,500.

The six other investigators pleaded guilty to the charges.

The case against Hiranaka and Mina was turned over to the jury one week ago.