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City Officials Who Helped Buyer Of Mayor's House Gets Eight Day Suspension

City of Columbus

The Columbus Department of Development employee who helped the buyer of Mayor Michael Coleman’s former Berwick home has admitted wrongdoing. According to a department news release, Bob Hsieh admits violating several city work rules, and will make restitution by forfeiting 63 hours of accrued vacation time. He will also serve an eight day suspension. The deal avoids a disciplinary hearing that was scheduled for next Tuesday. Hsieh admitted to city officials he went beyond his duties in helping Doctor Jianhua Li open a bank account, buy furniture and mow the lawn. Notes from Hsieh's supervisors indicate he was helping a potential foreign investor do business in the city. The FBI has been investigating city officials' relationship with Li, the purchase of the home and Hsieh’s related activities. In the release, department director Steve Schoeny says no department employees or people working in Coleman's office told Hseish or pressured him into helping Li beyond what was required by his job.

Jim has been with WCBE since 1996. Before that he worked as a reporter at another Columbus radio station, and for three newspapers in Southwest Florida.
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