HONOLULU (KHON2) — Local real estate investor Timothy Lee pleaded not guilty to nine counts related to falsified campaign donations.

The charges stem from allegations of false name contributions, a Class C felony, linked to donations made starting in the spring of 2020.

The Campaign Spending Commission referred the case to prosecutors in 2022 after an investigation revealed that Lee, the CEO of JL Capital, allegedly reimbursed employees for thousands of dollars in political donations to candidates running for Honolulu mayor.

Lee’s trial is set to begin on April 21.