A man arrested Monday for questioning in an investigation of $50,500 worth of artworks stolen from a gallery was released yesterday by police pending further investigation.

Francis X. Blackwell Jr., 59, who has no permanent local address, was the director of Island Art Galleries at Aloha Tower Marketplace, where eight pieces of artwork, including three original oil paintings by Chinese artist Zhou Ling and another original by Zhenguo or Z.G. Tong, were stolen.

Ann W. Taylor, 58, a former Island Art Galleries part-time consultant, was arrested with Blackwell in Kapolei and later released.

DIVER DROWNED, AUTOPSY SHOWS

An autopsy yesterday determined that a man whose body was found Tuesday in waters off Ka'a'awa had drowned, and listed the manner of death as accidental.

The medical examiner's office was withholding the man's name until his identity is confirmed.

Police yesterday said the body found Tuesday was wearing a wetsuit similar to the one worn by a diver swept out to sea Saturday night.

COUNCIL OKS RULE TO PUNISH LEAKERS

Confidential information from closed-door City Council meetings must now remain secret unless at least six of the council's nine members vote to release it.

As expected, the council yesterday approved new rules meant to ensure secrecy following the early disclosure in April of information about a $300 million sewer repair plan.

The rules, sponsored by Council Chairwoman Barbara Marshall, are largely aimed at muzzling Councilman Charles Djou, who revealed details about the sewer plan in response to an Advertiser reporter's inquiry.

Djou said the public had a right to know about the costly plan. But others argued that such disclosures could jeopardize tense negotiations. Djou was absent yesterday for a family vacation, and Councilman Donovan Dela Cruz cast the lone dissenting vote.

Djou had outlined the sewer plan after city attorneys briefed the council about a proposed agreement to settle an impending federal lawsuit.

Details were officially released nearly three weeks later, after the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency sued the city and immediately agreed to the repair plan.

The council yesterday tentatively approved a bill that would allow the city's Ethics Commission to fine elected officials up to $5,000 for violating ethics laws.

The measure faces several more votes before final approval.