Prominent Hawaii businessman charged in state’s largest ever public bribery case

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) – Federal prosecutors Thursday charged the Hawaii businessman on the middle of the state Capitol bribery scandal, alleging he additionally paid about $2 million in bribes to a former Maui official.

It’s the most important ever bribery case in Hawaii historical past.

Federal prosecutors charged Milton Choy, proprietor of H20 Course of Methods, with a single rely of bribery.

In addition they charged former Maui wastewater official Stewart Stant for receiving a bribe.

“Stant obtained tons of of hundreds of {dollars} of economic rewards and presents … from Choy as bribes to make sure the issuance of sole-source contracts to H2O,” mentioned U.S. Legal professional for Hawaii Clare Connors, in a information launch.

Choy is the businessman who supplied bribes to disgraced former state Sen. J. Kalani English and ex-state Rep. Ty Cullen, each of whom pleaded responsible.

Choy’s legal professional, Michael Inexperienced, mentioned his shopper had been cooperating with investigators.

“It wasn’t ever a query since I’ve been concerned on this that he was not ready to inform them every part he knew. And he did. So far as I can inform, he advised them every part,” Inexperienced beforehand advised HNN.

Choy was not charged for the bribes paid to Cullen and English. Sources have mentioned that on the time these bribes have been paid, he was working with federal investigators trying into corrupt state lawmakers.

Within the complaints unsealed Thursday, federal investigators mentioned that Choy performed “thousands and thousands of {dollars}” in enterprise with Maui County within the type of non-bid contracts.

A Hawaii Information Now evaluation of county procurement data reveals that since 2012, Choy’s agency obtained greater than 40 non-bid contracts valued at round $20 million.

Federal prosecutors say they plan to carry a information convention to announce the brand new costs.

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