Former executive director of the nonprofit Conservation Council for Hawai‘i, Moanaoio Bjur, 49, stands indicted of embezzling over $81,000 from the organization. According to an announcement from the Attorney General's office, Bjur was booked over the weekend on charges that included Computer Fraud in the First Degree and Theft in the First Degree among others.
While executing the responsibilities of her position, Bjur allegedly manipulated QuickBooks to issue herself 24 unauthorized payroll payments and made three unauthorized withdrawals from a PayPal account, said the Attorney General’s office. Attorney General Anne Lopez, reinforcing Hawai‘i's commitment to safeguarding nonprofit resources, shared, "Nonprofit organizations serve important charitable roles within Hawai‘i, and in exchange, they receive special tax exemptions. My department is dedicated to investigating and prosecuting those who exploit their positions within nonprofit organizations to steal funds intended for the public good within our communities."
The indictment includes serious charges that carry severe penalties, with Computer Fraud in the First Degree attracting up to 20 years imprisonment and a $50,000 fine. The investigation, led by the Department of the Attorney General’s Special Investigation and Prosecution Division (SIPD).
Deputy Attorney General Thomas Michener is leading the prosecution in the case State v. Moanaoio Bjur, 1CPC-25-0000178. The press release emphasizes that, despite the indictment, Bjur is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
