Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Search
Blogs
HiLife Online 
Most Read
- Sprinkle leaving KITV; wife Young clearing plate
- Friends and associates join search for missing kayaker
- Man missing since Monday is found in Kakaako
- Husband and wife team will no longer anchor at KITV
- Saint Louis Heights home a total loss, fire official says
- Legislators cancel party plans
- Jamora ready for Govs
- Teachers willing to return for restored furlough days
- Desserts offer options to usual pumpkin pie
- Coast Guard rescues 2 sailors missing for 2 days
- Wahine advance to WAC final
Liu cleared in contract award dispute
POSTED: 01:30 a.m. HST, Jul 02, 2009
A top state official will not face criminal prosecution for selecting a company for a contract even though the evaluation committee he appointed ranked it as the lowest among three bidders.
![[Preview]](http://media.starbulletin.com/images/video_front.gif)
Liu Avoids Criminal Charges![[Preview]](http://media.starbulletin.com/images/20090702_kitv_liu.jpg)
There will be no criminal charges against state business director Ted Liu after a state senate panel accused him of steering a 9 million dollar contract to a bidder he favored.
[ Watch ]
Prosecutor Peter Carlisle said yesterday that after reviewing the actions of Ted Liu, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, his office found no probable cause that a crime was committed.
"The prosecution of such a case under the laws that govern government attorneys would be unethical," Carlisle said.
Liu said he is grateful of the findings, which validate what he has said from the beginning: "We made a mistake and we corrected the mistake."
The case involved awarding a contract to manage the state's $8.7 million hydrogen energy investment fund.
Liu chose H2 Energy over Kolohala Holdings, which the committee ranked as the top of three bidders.
Kolohala appealed Liu's selection. The state Procurement Office ordered the department to award the contract to Kolohala, which Liu said he did.
Carlisle said the department dragged its feet before Kolohala was awarded the contract.
And by that time, the state Senate began an investigation into Liu's actions.
The Senate investigative committee concluded that Liu violated the procurement law, which is a misdemeanor, and referred the case to the attorney general for prosecution.
Attorney General Mark Bennett referred the case to Carlisle to remove any appearance of conflict.
Bennett and Liu are both members of Gov. Linda Lingle's cabinet.
A top state official will not face criminal prosecution for selecting a company for a contract even though the evaluation committee he appointed ranked it as the lowest among three bidders.
Liu Avoids Criminal Charges There will be no criminal charges against state business director Ted Liu after a state senate panel accused him of steering a 9 million dollar contract to a bidder he favored.
[ Watch ]
Prosecutor Peter Carlisle said yesterday that after reviewing the actions of Ted Liu, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism, his office found no probable cause that a crime was committed.
"The prosecution of such a case under the laws that govern government attorneys would be unethical," Carlisle said.
Liu said he is grateful of the findings, which validate what he has said from the beginning: "We made a mistake and we corrected the mistake."
The case involved awarding a contract to manage the state's $8.7 million hydrogen energy investment fund.
Liu chose H2 Energy over Kolohala Holdings, which the committee ranked as the top of three bidders.
Kolohala appealed Liu's selection. The state Procurement Office ordered the department to award the contract to Kolohala, which Liu said he did.
Carlisle said the department dragged its feet before Kolohala was awarded the contract.
And by that time, the state Senate began an investigation into Liu's actions.
The Senate investigative committee concluded that Liu violated the procurement law, which is a misdemeanor, and referred the case to the attorney general for prosecution.
Attorney General Mark Bennett referred the case to Carlisle to remove any appearance of conflict.
Bennett and Liu are both members of Gov. Linda Lingle's cabinet.
Today’s Edition
- Friends and associates join search for missing kayaker
- Legislators cancel party plans
- Teachers willing to return for restored furlough days
- Harbor officials eye fee increase
- Mammograms: Do I really need this?
- Thanksgiving Day events serve food to those in need
- Kokua Line: Insurance verification uses Social Security info
- Newswatch
- Police and Fire
- Australia's move on credit card fees may have lessons for U.S.
- At Iraqi museum, Google chief announces plan to put artifacts online
- Kona holiday fundraiser helps culinary students
- By Request: Help others and collect the year's best recipes
- The Electric Kitchen: Desserts offer options to usual pumpkin pie
- Pet Ohana
- Da Kine
- Got nutrients?
- Wahine advance to WAC final
- Medeiros catches on at slot
- Prep World: Jamora ready for Govs
- Prep World: Athletes of the Week
- Prep briefs
- Say and Look have Aiea and 'Iolani talking, watching wins
- Cincinnati rolls through Maryland at Maui Invitational
- Couples will play in Hawaii
- Local aces
- Hawaii Beat
- Scoreboard
- TV & Radio
insideStarBulletin.com
