The former Honolulu managing director and two other defendants have been charged with participating in a conspiracy to misappropriate government funds.

The $250,000 retirement payment to disgraced police chief Louis Kealoha was done legally, Leong’s attorney says.

Now a convicted felon, Louis Kealoha is supposed to pay the money back but so far has not done so.

The former Honolulu managing director’s public records request was rejected by city attorneys.

UPDATED: All defendants pleaded not guilty, and a judge allowed their release on unsecured $50,000 bonds.

Daniel Sellers was indicted along with the former HPD police chief and his prosecutor wife in 2017. After taking a plea deal, he was fired by the department.

In Hawaii, arbitrators look to previous decisions in order to be fair, no matter how serious the misconduct or whether it’s even similar.

In an upcoming criminal trial, Katherine Kealoha’s brother, Rudolph Puana, is accused of running a prescription drug ring out of his Big Island pain clinic.

The Honolulu Ethics Commission hired two outside attorneys to investigate the Kealohas as well as the people who had previously scrutinized their wrongdoing.

Roy Amemiya, who served as city managing director under former Mayor Kirk Caldwell, was already on notice when he received a subject letter last year.