Plea hearing set for officials charged in bribery scandal
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Current and former government officials charged in what experts have called the state’s largest bribery scandal are set to appear in court Thursday.
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Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke, former Department of Human Services director Ryan Yamane, Department of Transportation Airports Division administrator Ford Fuchigami, and former Hawaiʻi Public Utilities Commission Chair Leo Asuncion Jr. are expected to enter pleas to charges that include bribery, campaign finance violations and obstruction.
Lobbyist Tobi Solidum, who reportedly fled to the Philippines, is also charged, but it is unclear whether he will be back in Hawaiʻi for the hearing.
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Fuchigami has been placed on paid 30-day department-directed leave effective Monday.
In a statement, HDOT director Ed Sniffen said, “HDOT will follow its internal administrative policies regarding the indictment of Airports Administrator Ford Fuchigami. HDOT will cooperate with any requests from the appropriate authorities, as needed.”
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Luke took an unpaid leave of absence in April.
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