Lisa-Katharine Otsuka was acquitted this afternoon of all criminal charges against her in a theft and forgery case that began more than nine years ago.

A Circuit Court jury deliberated a day before finding Otsuka not guilty of one theft charge and nine counts of second-degree forgery.
Otsuka said outside court she believed the prosecution was punishment for her refusal in 2002 to testify before a grand jury that was investigating the campaign finances of then-Honolulu Mayor Jeremy Harris.
Otsuka said she is considering filing civil suit against the Office of the Prosecting Attorney.
“We haven’t made a decision. But there was a lot that wasn’t told and there was a lot that couldn’t be said because of the way court proceeds,” she said.
Deputy Prosecutor Paul Mow, who presented the evidence in the trial, said after the verdict was returned that there was probable cause to bring the case against Otsuka.
“There’s been many delays in this trial dealing with changes in attorney, pregnancies, departures from the island,” Mow said.
Another criminal case against Otsuka that ended earlier in a hung jury is still pending against her.
Mow said his office “will review” that case to determine if it will be re-tried.
“There’s no final decision that has been made,” he said.