City building inspector accused of soliciting bribes.
ALAMEDA — A city building inspector accused of soliciting bribes from a local business owner was arrested Thursday morning after a several-month FBI investigation, authorities said.
FBI agents arrested Hans Williams, 46, at his Dublin home without incident, an FBI spokeswoman said.
Williams, a longtime City Hall employee who city officials said Thursday has no history of similar complaints, is accused of soliciting bribes from a business owner while inspecting two properties between December 2005 and June 2006, the FBI said.
FBI spokeswoman LaRae Quy said federal investigators get involved any time public trust is violated.
“This is a basic public corruption case,” she said. “We don’t care if it’s local, state or federal … we will go after them.”
Alameda Assistant City Manager David Brandt said Williams was placed on administrative leave Thursday following his arrest.
Williams was booked into Santa Rita county jail in Dublin on $30,000 bail, according to the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office. He is scheduled to appear in court today.
Brandt called the allegations rare but said the city takes them seriously and will conduct its own investigation.
“It’s a firing offense,” Brandt said.
An Alameda homeowner had accused another building inspector of taking bribes during a spontaneous inspection of his Marina Drive home in September 2000.
June 25 2007 05:16 pm | Bribes
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