A Kaua'i man found dead in the Philippines with a gunshot wound to his head had sent an e-mail shortly before he was killed saying he would be sightseeing with a Honolulu businessman now accused of defrauding him, a police detective testified yesterday.

Detective David Watahara testified that John Elwin's friend, Marciel Lindo, who received the e-mail, considered it suspicious because Elwin said the businessman, Henry Calucag Jr., told him to leave behind his valuables and identification.

Watahara said the e-mail was sent the day or the day before Elwin's body was found on May 15.

The detective testified at a hearing yesterday on a defense request to release Calucag under supervision in the identity theft case.

Circuit Judge Michael Town denied the request. He also scheduled Calucag's trial on charges of identity theft, theft and forgery for Jan. 22.

Calucag's case has taken on heightened interest with the confirmation last month that Elwin was the man whose body was found in a province several hours outside of Manila.

In addition, two other men — Douglas Ho and Arthur Young, both of Honolulu — went missing after going to the Philippines. According to police, all three had dealings with Calucag.

Lori Kurisaki, an investigator with the city prosecutor's office, testified at the hearing that a local, state and federal task force is focusing on Calucag in its investigation of Elwin's killing and the two missing men.

Watahara also testified that new charges of credit card fraud, felony theft, identification theft and computer-related offenses against Calucag also are being investigated. The victim in those cases is Elwin's brother, Christopher, the detective said.

Calucag, also known as Hank Jacinto, has not been charged with murdering Elwin, but city Deputy Prosecutor Christopher Van Marter argued that now that it is known that Elwin is dead, Calucag will flee if he's released.

"He will not return to Hawai'i now that John Elwin's body has been found," Van Marter said.

Calucag's lawyer, Jeffrey Hawk, argued that Calucag is not a suspect in Elwin's death and the prosecution's arguments were based on "nothing but suspicions." If the theory of the prosecution's case is that Calucag was involved in the death, the last place he would flee to would be the Philippines, Hawk said.

But Town said he saw no reason to overturn a decision by acting Circuit Judge Fa'auuga To'oto'o on Sept. 14 to hold Calucag without bail.

Elwin's relatives who attended the hearing declined to comment, but Louis Soltren, Elwin's friend for 30 years, said he thought Town's ruling was fair.

Hawk said it's been difficult to deal with what he called "unfounded accusations."

"I feel like I'm battling ghosts here," he said.

He said his client does not have any information about the whereabouts of the two missing men.

Young has been missing since 1989. Ho's family filed a missing persons report in January 2005.

Reach Ken Kobayashi at kkobayashi@honoluluadvertiser.com.