JOC Staff | Oct 19, 2012 9:16AM EDT
The Oakland Board of Port Commissioners has placed Executive Director Omar Benjamin on administrative leave, with pay, while an investigation continues into charges that Benjamin’s maritime director spent port money to entertain clients at a strip club.
The commission announced last week that a recent audit revealed Maritime Director James Kwon in 2008 spent $4,500 of port money to entertain clients at D. Houston Inc. That is the corporate name of Treasures Strip Club in Houston.
Oakland’s port commission, in a brief statement, gave no reason why Benjamin was placed immediately on administrative leave.
Also on Oct. 18, the commission passed a resolution naming Deborah Ale Flint, director of aviation, to act with the authority of executive director.
Finally, the board engaged the firm of Arnold & Porter to assist in the board’s ongoing investigation of alleged improper expenditures by port staff.
