Uploaded July 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 hours ago
👀Check out civilbeat.org for full details on this developing story.
Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and ex-state Rep. Ryan Yamane were among the four current and former Hawaiʻi officials who were indicted last week in a major corruption scandal.
Ford Fuchigami — airport administrator of the Department of Transportation and former budget staff member with the state Senate — and Leo Asuncion — a state planning official, former chair of the Public Utilities Commission and Luke’s former campaign treasurer — were also indicted.
Civil Beat’s reporting team was in court Thursday, Aug. 30 to watch all four plead not guilty.
The indictment lays out an alleged conspiracy. Luke is charged with bribery for actions she took as a state representative to arrange state money for a Covid-19 testing effort run by Tobi Solidum, a businessman who promised to get her $35,000 or more in campaign donations.
Lobbyist Tobi Solidum is also accused of bribing Fuchigami and Yamane with cash and checks in an effort to influence legislative bills.
At the time, Fuchigami was a budget analyst for Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz’s Ways and Means Committee, the Senate’s money committee.
Prosecutors believe Solidum is in the Philippines. The Attorney General’s Office has not indicated whether it plans to have him extradited.
A trial date has been set.
✉️ Be the first to get an update in this case sign up for our free daily newsletter at civilbeat.org/newsletters
👀Check out civilbeat.org for full details on this developing story.
Lt. Gov. Sylvia Luke and ex-state Rep. Ryan Yamane were among the four current and former Hawaiʻi officials who were indicted last week in a major corruption scandal.
Ford Fuchigami — airport administrator of the Department of Transportation and former budget staff member with the state Senate — and Leo Asuncion — a state planning official, former chair of the Public Utilities Commission and Luke’s former campaign treasurer — were also indicted.
Civil Beat’s reporting team was in court Thursday, Aug. 30 to watch all four plead not guilty.
The indictment lays out an alleged conspiracy. Luke is charged with bribery for actions she took as a state representative to arrange state money for a Covid-19 testing effort run by Tobi Solidum, a businessman who promised to get her $35,000 or more in campaign donations.
Lobbyist Tobi Solidum is also accused of bribing Fuchigami and Yamane with cash and checks in an effort to influence legislative bills.
At the time, Fuchigami was a budget analyst for Sen. Donovan Dela Cruz’s Ways and Means Committee, the Senate’s money committee.
Prosecutors believe Solidum is in the Philippines. The Attorney General’s Office has not indicated whether it plans to have him extradited.
A trial date has been set.
✉️ Be the first to get an update in this case sign up for our free daily newsletter at civilbeat.org/newsletters
