NJ Public Defendant Caught Up In Bribe Case

1010Wins ^ | 10/2/03 | 1010 WINS EAST BRUNSWICK, N.J.

[Calpernia]

The township's public defender has been accused of asking for and receiving money from a defendant he was assigned to represent for free.

Hanit B. Dorwani, 40, also known as H. Joseph Dorwani, was arrested Tuesday night after he appeared in East Brunswick Municipal Court on behalf of several defendants. He was charged with official misconduct and bribery in official matters and has since been released on $100,000 bail.

The Middlesex County Prosecutor's Office said Dorwani requested and received payment from the unidentified defendant on Tuesday. The charges came about after East Brunswick police received a tip last month about Dorwani's actions, said Ron Abramowitz, head of the county's Special Prosecutions Unit.

The tip came from someone with a case pending in municipal court who would have been represented by Dorwani, Abramowitz said. The information led to a joint investigation by township and county authorities.

Abramowitz said that since the probe was ongoing, he could not discuss the case further or say if there were any other victims. The charges have been referred to the state Office of Attorney Ethics, which will determine whether Dorwani should be disciplined.

Dorwani, who received a $20,000 salary for the part-time post he's held since 1999, has been suspended without pay and will likely be replaced later this month, township officials said. He could face up to 10 years in prison if convicted of the charges.

Dorwani, who has practiced law since 1990 and has an office in New Brunswick, was not immediately available for comment.

[Calpernia]

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[dts32041]

I smell Law & Order.

[Calpernia]

Politicians in NJ seem to love criminals.

[martin_fierro]

pingawinga.

[steplock]

I'm surprised that no one here caught the TRUTH within this article!

If this "victim" can afford the "BRIBE" ...

WHY is he being represented for FREE ?

[Liz]

Thanks for the pinga. Watta surprise, a corrupt NJ public official. (/sarcasm).

[AmericaUnited]

A crooked politician in Jersey? What is the world coming to?

[genefromjersey]

This one is pretty small potatos. The guy is a municipal PD-nothing to do with the State PD's office. He apparently asked some defendant for payment-and got it ( proving, by the way, the guy had no need for a PD .)

This thing will get remanded/downgraded.Newspapers get a headline, etc.

[Calpernia]

He may be small potatoes; but it is not an uncommon practice. My partner is a state correction's officer (recently retired). Our state is way more corrupt then we know.

[sully777]

REAL HEADLINE:

MAN LIVES ON $20K IN MIDDLESEX COUNTY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!