Dept of Planning and Permitting Bribery Scandal Prompts Organizational Reform hpr2.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from hpr2.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Honolulu bribery scandal prompts permit department overhaul
JENNIFER SINCO KELLEHER, Associated Press
April 23, 2021
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HONOLULU (AP) Honolulu is overhauling its building permit process after a federal investigation resulted in indictments alleging a bribery scheme.
Last month’s indictments allege that five current and former employees of the city’s Department of Planning and Permitting took bribes in exchange for favors, including approving plans for residential projects and nullifying code violations at a multi-family residence in Waikiki.
An architect was also charged and pleaded guilty to paying bribes to a building plans examiner, Kanani Padeken, who also pleaded guilty. The department then fired her.
2 plead guilty to wire fraud in city planning department scandal Frank Fasi Municipal Building (Source: Archive) By HNN Staff | April 7, 2021 at 5:47 PM HST - Updated April 7 at 5:49 PM
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Two people involved in a city bribery scandal pleaded guilty to the charges facing them on Wednesday.
Kanani Padeken and William Wong both admitted to the charges of wire fraud.
Padeken, a supervisor for the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting, said in exchange for money, she gave preferential treatment to Wong, who is a local architect.
The scandal came to light late last month when charges against five current and former DPP employees were announced. Wong was considered a whistleblower in the case, but also faced charges for engaging in offering the bribes.
Homeowner says former DPP employee arrested by FBI delayed his permits back in 2015
DPP probe nets not guilty pleas, homeowner says FBI began DPP investigation six years ago By Rick Daysog | March 31, 2021 at 7:47 PM HST - Updated March 31 at 9:49 PM
HONOLULU, Hawaii (HawaiiNewsNow) - Back in January 2015, Kahala resident Ian Lind submitted several permit applications to the city Department of Planning and Permitting to renovate his home.
âIt took us five and a half months to get the permits because of âWayne the Pain,ââ said Lind, a longtime investigative reporter and blogger.
Lind is referring to Wayne Inouye, the cityâs former chief building inspector, who was arrested by the FBI along with several other DPP staffers and ex-staffers on Tuesday on federal wire fraud charges.
Five Honolulu Planning Department Employees Indicted For Bribery civilbeat.org - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from civilbeat.org Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.