HONOLULU – Matson Terminals, Inc., a Hawaii corporation, has been sentenced to pay a staggering $1 million in fines and restitution for unlawfully discharging molasses into Honolulu Harbor. The punishment comes after the company pleaded guilty to two criminal charges brought against them by U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard L. Puglisi.
The fine, which includes a $400,000 penalty and $600,000 in restitution, will be split between the Waikiki Aquarium for Coral Programs and Invasive Algae Clean-ups, and Sustainable Coastlines Hawaii to promote coastal care through beach clean-ups.
According to Florence T. Nakakuni, United States Attorney for the District of Hawaii, Matson Terminals discharged approximately 233,000 gallons of molasses into the Harbor without authorization between September 9 and September 10, 2013. Despite being aware of a State of Hawaii Department of Transportation report indicating a pipeline leak, the corporation continued to release the molasses.
The spill resulted in the death of an estimated 25,000 fish, causing significant ecological damage. The case against Matson was a result of an investigation by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), with Assistant United States Attorneys Leslie E. Osborne, Jr., and Marshall H. Silverberg handling the prosecution.
Matson’s actions have been met with severe consequences, reflecting the serious nature of environmental crimes and the government’s commitment to protecting marine ecosystems.
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Key Facts
- State: Hawaii
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Public Corruption|White Collar Crime|Organized Crime
- Source: Official Source ↗
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