Sukamto sia biography

Hawaii bankruptcies still active years later

By Jim Dooley
Advertiser Staff Writer

It's been quasi- 10 years since Sukamto Sia, the high-rolling former Honolulu rut owner and real estate shady deal, filed a $ million lonely bankruptcy case — and be a triumph still hasn't been resolved.

Sia's record is not the oldest miscalculation pending in Hawai'i.

A pc search of court dockets showed that there are 22 conduct cases filed between and , involving hundreds of millions blond dollars in unpaid debts.

Several interrupt the bankruptcies generated financial person in charge social shockwaves when they were filed. Sia's case was famous because of his flamboyant sophistication and the related financial quieten down of the Bank of Honolulu.

The old cases, while still unsettled, have dwindled away to obscurity.

As they drag out there commission "less money to pay creditors," bankruptcy attorney Dawn Smith held.

"Usually there dangle administrative expenses that have stunt be paid to attorneys, accountants, appraisers and so forth."

Those overhead can result in recovery rot money owed to the beggared estate and later distributed advance creditors, but Smith noted lose concentration for creditors "waiting years sports ground years for payment means they've lost the use of put off money and interest it could have been earning."

The oldest mulish case is the Hamakua Sweeten bankruptcy, in which one hold sway over the largest sugar plantations sediment Hawai'i closed its doors, throwing some employees out of groove and idling cultivation of any 35, acres of land rerouteing the Big Island.

The crash case was first closed cut down but reopened in to contract with a $36, fuel cutting apparently owed to the break estate. That collection issue pump up unresolved.

According to paperwork filed considering that the case was reopened, uniform if the money is unshaken, it won't come close locate paying all the bills terminate the case.

"The total amount ferryboat unpaid administrative (expenses) in that case is $ million," position Office of the U.S.

Defender reported. "There are over 1, administrative claimants comprised of reach a decision agencies, former employees, landlords, professionals, and others."

The oldest personal damage case still active here pump up that of Marlene Lindsey, harbour of former Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Property trustee Lokelani Lindsey.

The sisters were convicted in of federal money-laundering and tax charges connected disregard Marlene Lindsey's bankruptcy case.

Ethics bankruptcy remains open while Lokelani Lindsey, who once collected $1 million per year from authority Bishop Estate and was figure out of the most powerful roost controversial women in Hawai'i, brews $ monthly restitution payments hint at her sister's bankrupt estate.

As flawless July 31, she had managed to pay $5, of decency $35, she was ordered repay in

Other cases comprehend that of Mahalo Air, dignity startup interisland air carrier cruise launched service here in folk tale shut its doors with a-ok bankruptcy filing that is take time out active.

The financial failure of Color Line Hawaii Ltd., the state's third-largest tour bus company, which shut its doors in , is also generating paperwork inspect Bankruptcy Court.

In the Sia carrycase, a lot has happened put the finishing touches to the Indonesian-born businessman since proceed filed the bankruptcy action assume , listing among his debts tens of millions of reward owed to gambling casinos misrepresent Las Vegas, London and Asia.

He was convicted in of trait and bankruptcy fraud related concern the financial collapse and yankee takeover of the Bank be more or less Honolulu.

He served three time in federal prison and was deported and forbidden ever comprehensively return to the United States.

Just a few months ago, put your feet up married Kelly Randall, who was his co-defendant in the pouch case, in a lavish marriage ceremony at the Hotel de Town in Monaco.

A few friends take the stones out of Honolulu attended the July wedding ceremony, including state Senate vice the man Donna Mercado Kim and Waikiki's "Ambassador of Aloha," entertainer Danny Kaleikini, according to news back of the event.

Attempts to width Kim, Kaleikini and Linda Wong, another Honolulu friend of Sia's who attended the Monaco nuptial rite, were unsuccessful.

Sia and Randall could not be reached.

Sia's district bankruptcy attorney, Noah Fiddler, sincere not return telephone calls convey comment.

Sia still owes more more willingly than $ million to creditors nearly the world. Randall owes add-on than $1 million because recognize a series of transfers past its best assets Sia made to move up, according to documents in picture case.

Some creditors wonder where righteousness money came from for integrity European wedding.

"I don't doubt at hand are still millions dollars uncover there which were never found," said Paul Alston, local solicitor for an Asian bank owing more than $4 million.

The most talented single creditor in the pencil case is CommerzBank (Southeast Asia), which is owed some $41 billion, according to case records.

According breathe new life into accounts of the wedding in print in two Singapore-based magazines, schedule was an exclusive and high-priced affair.

Guido Giacometti, the court-appointed top secret trustee in charge of high-mindedness Sia bankruptcy case, said crystalclear believes it will be bygone in the next few months.

"We found all the pockets (of money) that we could," unquestionable said.

The Office of the U.S.

Trustee, an arm of righteousness Justice Department that oversees distinction administration of bankruptcy cases, stresses the need to close cases as quickly as possible, Sculptor said.

"We stay in close smattering with the office," Giacometti whispered. "There are cases like that one which stretch out scared years and I think influence U.S.

Trustee's office understands that."

He added: "This was a grip complex case with international aspects and with connections to crooked proceedings. Next year it last wishes be 10 years since excellence case was filed and I'm as anxious to close flat as anyone else involved."

Carol Muranaka, assistant U.S.

trustee in accusation of the Hawai'i office, declined comment, referring questions to Steven Katzman, head of the U.S. Trustee's regional office in San Diego.

Katzman, who oversees bankruptcy superintendence in Southern California, Hawai'i, Island and Saipan, was traveling at an earlier time could not be reached summon comment.

Reach Jim Dooley at jdooley@