Deputy indicted in sex assault Deputy indicted in sex assault ADVERTISING HONOLULU (AP) — A state deputy sheriff has been indicted on charges he sexually assaulted a female detainee at the District Court cellblock in Honolulu. Benjamin Fonoti was indicted
Deputy indicted in sex assault
HONOLULU (AP) — A state deputy sheriff has been indicted on charges he sexually assaulted a female detainee at the District Court cellblock in Honolulu.
Benjamin Fonoti was indicted Thursday for second- and third-degree sexual assault. The indictment alleges the 30-year-old forced the detainee to perform oral sex on him and placed her hand on his penis. His arraignment is scheduled for April 19.
He’s been released on $11,000 bail. The Department of Public Safety has placed Fonoti on leave without pay and has started its own internal investigation.
Lingle continues fundraising lead
HONOLULU (AP) — Two Hawaii candidates vying for a seat in the U.S. Senate raised more than $1 million during the last quarter.
Former Republican Gov. Linda Lingle’s campaign announced Thursday it had raised $1.3 million from Jan. 1 to March 31 of this year.
U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono’s campaign issued a press release saying the Democratic congresswoman had raised $1 million during the same period.
Lingle has raised a total $3.1 million this election cycle, compared to Hirono’s $2.3 million. Ed Case’s campaign finance report was not immediately available.
Dalai Lama tours
museum, palace
HONOLULU (AP) — The Dalai Lama says keeping Native Hawaiian language alive is essential to the culture’s survival.
During a trip to the Bishop Museum on Saturday, the spiritual leader called Native Hawaiians “special brothers and sisters” to the Tibetan people.
He was greeted in the morning with a chant and preschoolers singing a song in the Hawaiian language. He later visited Iolani Palace.
Schatz heads to Asia for 1 week
HONOLULU (AP) — Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz left Saturday for a one week trip to Asia.
Schatz will meet with industrial leaders in Japan and Asia to discuss partnerships to help secure Hawaii’s clean energy future and expand its green economy.
The trip strengthens alliances made during last fall’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in Honolulu. These alliances make Hawaii a leading incubator for the global clean energy industry, Schatz says.
Schatz adds that it’s important to build on those relationships to help Hawaii reach its goal of becoming 70 percent energy independent by 2030.
Over the past year, Gov. Neil Abercrombie formalized an agreement with Japanese officials to establish the $37 million Smart Grid Demonstration Project on Maui and agreed to pursue a smart grid demonstration with Korea.
