Grandma’s Deposition In Kealoha Corruption Case Postponed

Florence Puana was hospitalized over the weekend. Prosecutors want to question her early because of her poor health.

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(AP) — A deposition for a 99-year-old woman prosecutors say is a key witness in a Honolulu corruption case has been postponed because she was hospitalized over the weekend.

Florence Puana and her son Gerard Puana say Katherine Kealoha stole hundreds of thousands of dollars from them. Submitted

U.S. prosecutors want to question Florence Puana in a deposition because they are concerned her age and health may prevent her from testifying at a trial next month.

Puana is the grandmother of Katherine Kealoha, a former deputy Honolulu prosecutor. Kealoha and her now-retired police chief husband Louis Kealoha are accused of defrauding relatives, banks and children to maintain a lavish lifestyle.

Puana’s early testimony was scheduled to be taken Monday. Prosecutors say she was hospitalized Saturday and released Sunday. She’s also scheduled for heart-valve replacement surgery. A judge tentatively set deposition for April 30. It could happen sooner, depending on her health.

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