ALOHA :

Leong, Sword, and Amemiya Indicted for Involvement in $250,000 Payout to Fmr. Chief Kealoha

Three high ranking government officials turned in to the FBI on Wednesday:

• Former city Managing Director Roy Amemiya;
• Ex-Honolulu Police Commissioner Max Sword;
• And former Corporation Counsel Donna Leong, whom was the city’s top civil attorney.

The three were subsequently charged with conspiracy to defraud the U.S. government as part of the city’s $250,000 golden parachute payout to disgraced fmr. police chief Kealoha.

After self-surrender, the three were arraigned by U.S. District Judge Rom Trader; each entered pleas of not guilty through their attorneys and were released on unsecured $50,000 bonds.

Central to the case, is the allegation that the three conspired against and misled the government in engineering fmr. Chief Kealoha's $250,000 severance payout.

Any payout over $100,000 requires approval by the City Council, yet the indictment screenshots below claims the rule was circumvented by the three by dividing the payout into three smaller amounts of $99,999, $99,999, and $50,002.

Fmr. councilman Ikaika Anderson confirms the City Council was not consulted for approval on the payout.

“I was asked by the grand jury what the council’s role was in awarding the severance package, settlement monies. I had to say that the council was told by corporation counsel that we had no role.”

said Ikaika Anderson.

Full story can be reviewed on several legacy news outlets:

The Star-Advertiser

Hawaii News Now

KHON 2

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