City Worker Accused of Seeking Bribe to Speed Up Building Permit
A Los Angeles Building and Safety Department employee has been arrested on suspicion of soliciting a $10,000 bribe to expedite a building permit, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office said Friday.
John A. Kaldawi, 30, of Van Nuys, was arrested Thursday on suspicion of bribery as he left a downtown restaurant after pocketing a check from a Century City lawyer, said Sandi Gibbons, a spokeswoman for the district attorney.
The lawyer’s name was not released.
Events leading to Kaldawi’s arrest began July 22 at City Hall, where the attorney sought a permit for building or remodeling an auto body and paint shop, Gibbons said. Kaldawi, a structural engineer associate and assistant counter supervisor, allegedly told the attorney that the permit process would take seven to eight months unless he paid a $10,000 “fee†to expedite the procedure.
The attorney gave his business card to Kaldawi, who called the lawyer five days later to discuss the alleged bribe, Gibbons said. A meeting was subsequently set up and the lawyer informed the district attorney’s office, which assisted in the investigation.
Kaldawi, who was released on $15,000 bail Thursday, is scheduled to be arraigned in Los Angeles Municipal Court on Aug.
Sign up for Essential California
The most important California stories and recommendations in your inbox every morning.
You may occasionally receive promotional content from the Los Angeles Times.
