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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Sunday, April 15, 2007

Airport contractor gets second chance

Advertiser Staff

An electrical contractor who pleaded guilty to defrauding the state for his work at Honolulu International Airport has been given a chance to have his theft case dropped.

Circuit Judge Richard Perkins last week gave Bert Shiosaki, president of CBS Electrical Inc., the opportunity to have the charge dismissed if he stays out of trouble for five years and pays the state $146,000 for overbillings in 1999 to 2001.

Four other contractors also pleaded guilty to theft charges in the scam and were also given chances to have their theft cases dropped.

All five cooperated with authorities, including federal prosecutors who obtained fraud convictions against two former airport officials and two other contractors.

The other four are Roy Shimotsukasa of AAA Termite and Pest Control Inc., Arthur Inada of Blueprint Builders Inc., Roy Yoshida of Yoshida's Auto Paint Shop and Herbert Hirota of Hirota Painting Co.

State Deputy Attorney General Christopher Young, who handled the state prosecution, said he hopes the cases warn state employees and contractors working for the state that they must follow the procurement laws. He said the attorney general's office will prosecute anyone who breaks those laws.

The four, convicted of fraud charges in a federal court jury trial last year, will be sentenced later this year.