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Fine against Marcos family survives appeal
A federal appeals court is upholding a $354 million fine against the widow and son of the late Philippine dictator Ferdinand Marcos.
A three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed Wednesday with a U.S. District Court judge’s ruling against Imelda Marcos and Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.
Judge Manuel Real imposed the fine after determining they violated a court order to freeze their assets so they could pay thousands of Marcos human rights abuse victims. The victims won a class-action lawsuit against the Marcos estate.
Only a fraction of the $2 billion a federal jury in Honolulu awarded the victims in 1995 has been collected. Attorney Sherry Broder said Friday lawyers will continue to pursue damages courts awarded to victims and their surviving family members.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Mayor is fined for phone use
It appears that even for Hawaii County Mayor Billy Kenoi, old habits die hard.
The mayor signed a bill into law in 2009 banning hand-held cellphones while driving. At the time, he acknowledged that people will have to learn to change their behavior, including himself.
West Hawaii Today reported that Honolulu police cited Kenoi on Sept. 20 for operating a motor vehicle while using a mobile device. Court records show that he was fined $269 for that charge and for failing to produce his driver’s license or insurance card.
Kenoi said he usually uses a hands-free device in his own car but was driving a rental. He said his driver’s license was in his bag and could not be produced right away.
Kenoi said his fine is paid, lesson learned.