Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke Indicted on Bribery Charges Over COVID-19 Contract
Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke was indicted on multiple felony charges including bribery and conspiracy for allegedly accepting campaign contributions in exchange for advancing a COVID-19 testing contract.
Hawaii Lieutenant Governor Indicted
Hawaii Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke was indicted Friday on multiple felony charges, including bribery and conspiracy, following a state investigation into allegations that she accepted campaign contributions in exchange for helping advance a COVID-19 testing contract. [2] The indictment was issued Friday following a state investigation. [2] The charges center on claims that campaign contributions were accepted in return for advancing the contract. [2] The state investigation examined the alleged exchange involving the COVID-19 testing contract. [2] Multiple felony counts were included in the indictment handed down on Friday. [2]
South Korean Ex-Councilor Questioned in Child Sex Case
Former Cheongju City Council member Choi Young-jung underwent 15 hours of police questioning over allegations of quasi-rape of a minor, producing child sexual exploitation material, soliciting child prostitution and related offenses. [1] A former city council member of Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, underwent a second round of police questioning over allegations that he engaged in sexual acts with a minor and produced child sexual exploitation material, police said Sunday. [1] According to the Cheongju Cheongwon Police Station, former Cheongju City Council member Choi Young-jung appeared for questioning as a suspect at around 2 p.m. Sunday and was interrogated for about 15 hours, leaving the station at 5:16 a.m. Monday. [1] Choi is accused of "quasi-rape" of a minor, producing child sexual exploitation material, soliciting prostitution of a child and engaging in conversations for the purpose of sexual exploitation, in violation of the Act on the Protection of Children and Youth Against Sexual Offenses. [1] Under Korean law, "quasi-rape" is defined as sexual intercourse "by taking advantage of the other's condition of unconsciousness or inability to resist." [1] Leaving the police station wearing a face mask, Choi declined to answer reporters' questions, including whether he knew the victim was a minor and whether there were additional victims. [1] "I cooperated fully with the investigation," he said. "The case is under investigation." [1] Choi was elected to the city council in the June local elections on the ticket of the People Power Party. [1] He resigned from the position in just 16 days of the term beginning. [1]
NATO Intern Arrested on Espionage Suspicion
A Canadian woman with Chinese origin serving as an intern at NATO's SHAPE headquarters in Belgium was arrested and remanded on suspicion of spying for a third country and participating in a criminal organization. [4] The woman is a Canadian citizen and has Chinese origin. [4] The woman was arrested Thursday 23 July. [4] A Canadian woman intern at NATO's strategic military headquarters (SHAPE) for the allied forces in Europe was remanded in custody in Belgium. [4] She is suspected of spying for an unnamed third country and for participation in a criminal organization, the federal prosecutor's office in Belgium said in a press release. [4] SHAPE is the military headquarters where NATO plans, leads and coordinates the alliance's military operations and missions. [4] It is where the military decisions on planning and implementation of operations are put into practice. [4] It was SHAPE's own security service that first became aware of the woman. [4] They notified the Belgian military intelligence and security service. [4] The case has now been transferred to the federal criminal police in Charleroi, which is leading the investigation. [4] After a series of investigative steps, the federal criminal police in Charleroi carried out an operation Thursday 23 July. [4] Searches were carried out both in the suspect's home and at her workplace at SHAPE. [4] Several units participated in the investigation, including the Computer Crime Unit (CCU). [4] In addition, forensic and forensic medical police units in Charleroi and Mons participated. [4] Authorities are tight-lipped about what they have found, citing the ongoing investigation. [4] Belgium has uncovered several spy cases in recent years. [4]
Aggravated Robbery Charges in New Zealand
Three men aged 33, 40 and 46 were charged with aggravated robbery after a liquor store hold-up in Eden Terrace, New Zealand. [3] The trio, aged 33, 40 and 46, will appear in court today on aggravated robbery charges. [3]
Voter Card Theft in Nigeria
Suspected hoodlums numbering eight to 10 stormed an INEC ward collation centre in Okuku, Osun State, Nigeria, fired shots into the air and stole three packs of Permanent Voter Cards. [5] Some people suspected to be hoodlums reportedly stormed a ward collation centre located at Oyinlola DC School, Okuku, Osun State, where officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission were distributing Permanent Voters Cards, and carted away some of the items. [5] The incident, which occurred on Sunday, was learnt to have disrupted the exercise, as those at the scene reportedly ran in different directions. [5] A resident of Okuku, identified simply as Gbadebo, told our correspondent that the perpetrators entered the premises without drawing the attention of people around and shot into the air as they made for some packs of PVCs placed close to the chairs of the INEC staff members attending to those waiting to collect their cards. [5] “The incident occurred at Oyinlola DC School, Ward 2, Okuku, Osun State, on Sunday. Some of us were around to collect our PVCs, and I can’t say when those hoodlums got into the premises. “They shot into the air and disrupted the exercise. Some of us around fled in different directions, and they went straight to where those INEC staff put the PVCs and made away with some packs. The hoodlums involved are about eight in number,” Gbadebo said. [5] Confirming the incident in a statement, Osun Police Command Public Relations Officer, Abiodun Ojelabi, said the Police Commissioner, Ibrahim Gotan, condemned the act. [5] Ojelabi also said that Gotan had directed a comprehensive investigation with a view to identifying, arresting, and prosecuting those involved. [5] He also said tactical and intelligence assets of the command had been deployed, adding that efforts had been intensified to apprehend the perpetrators and recover the stolen PVCs. [5] “Some officials of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Osun State, who were peacefully distributing Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) at Oyinlola DC Primary School, Ward 2, Odo-Otin Local Government Area, were attacked by about 10 armed thugs. “The hoodlums reportedly fired sporadically into the air and carted away with three packs of Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs). “The Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, has condemned the incident in its entirety and has directed a comprehensive investigation with a view to identifying, arresting, and prosecuting all those responsible. “The command reiterates its unwavering commitment to professionalism and strict adherence to the rule of law in the discharge of its constitutional responsibilities. “Members of the public are urged to remain calm, law-abiding, and refrain from any action capable of causing further breach of the peace,” Ojelabi said. [5] He appealed to residents and eyewitnesses with credible information that may assist police investigation to promptly report to the nearest police station or contact the Command through its emergency lines. [5]
Ongoing Investigations
Choi said the case is under investigation after cooperating fully. [1] The Hawaii case followed a state investigation into the allegations. [2] The Belgian federal criminal police in Charleroi is leading the investigation after searches at the suspect's home and workplace. [4] The Osun Police Command has directed a comprehensive investigation to identify, arrest and prosecute those responsible while deploying tactical and intelligence assets to recover the stolen PVCs. [5]
What to watch next: Further updates are expected as the Hawaii state investigation proceeds after the Friday indictment, the Korean police case remains under investigation following the 15-hour questioning, the Belgian espionage probe continues after the Thursday 23 July operation, and the Osun command intensifies efforts to apprehend the perpetrators and recover the three packs of PVCs.
