A 92-year-old architect who tried to slip a Honolulu permit worker a $20 bill has been convicted of bribery of a public servant and now faces potential prison time.
Kiyoshi Toi was caught on surveillance video trying to pass the money to the city employee through a handshake in 2022. The permit worker, Alexander Laurente, declined the money and reported the interaction to authorities.
Toi, who grew up in Japan, said he was expressing gratitude in alignment with his cultural traditions. He offered that particular amount of money because it was about the cost of an oxtail soup he enjoys at a local restaurant…