Kaneshiro bribery trial delayed after 82-year-old co-defendant is injured in jailhouse fall
HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - An 82-year-old co-defendant in the “pay-to-play” trial against Honolulu’s former city prosecutor was injured ahead of his transport Monday from the Federal Detention Center to court, delaying the high-profile trial for the day.
Businessman Dennis Mitsunaga fell at the detention center and had to be taken to the hospital to be treated for a cut on his head.
He has been in FDC since he was arrested on April 19.
A magistrate judge then ordered him detained for the duration of trial for alleged witness tampering and obstruction.
Mitsunaga’s attorney, Nina Marino, had been arguing for his release since telling the court that the jail wasn’t giving him proper care given his advanced age and his medication. Marino said she’ll be filing a request for the trial judge to reconsider bail so her client can go home.
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Retired federal public defender Alexander Silvert said the judge could do that if he feels Mitsunaga won’t violate bail conditions again.
“Prison is not a good place for anyone, much less someone who’s elderly,” said Silvert.
Not everyone agreed.
Victor Bakke, a defense attorney and former deputy city prosecutor, said the new allegations against Mitsunaga warrant detention.
“The judge is fully aware of his health conditions and his age,” Bakke said.
He added those factors don’t equate to a pass.
Mitsunaga and four of his employees from engineering firm Mitsunaga and Associates, Inc. are accused of bribing ex-city Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro using campaign donations.
In return, the government alleges, Kaneshiro prosecuted a former firm employee who had sued for discrimination.
The jury was not told that Mitsunaga was detained mid-trial.
He is in plainclothes during proceedings and the deputy U.S. Marshals who flank him are in aloha shirts and remove the handcuffs and shackles before he enters the courtroom.
The jury was told Monday that Mitsunaga had a medical issue and that’s why trial was cancelled for the day. Trial is scheduled to resume Tuesday morning.
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