QNE_p011

QC08082013

FOR BREAKING NEWS VISIT www.queenscourier.com AUGUST 8, 2013 • THE QUEENS COURIER 11 Man wrongfully jailed to sue for $133M BY MELISSA CHAN mchan@queenscourier.com The Bayside man exonerated by DNA after being wrongfully jailed for almost nine months is suing the city for more than $133 million, his lawyer said. Kenneth King was charged with the attempted rape and sex abuse of a woman in Whitestone in September 2011. The early morning attack along the Cross Island Parkway near 148th Street was foiled by former marine Bryan Teichman, who spooked the assailant and who later hesitantly picked King out of a lineup, according to the complaint fi led against the city. “I hope to God I am making the right choice,” the complaint shows him saying. “I think it’s #2.” King was released last June from Rikers Island, where he spent most of his imprisonment, after DNA retrieved from the victim’s sweater did not match his, said defense attorney Scott Dufault. His case was dismissed a month later. The free man is now suing the city for “negligently and intentionally” depriving him of his Constitutional rights, the complaint says. He is seeking monetary compensation from lost pay, attorney fees, physical injuries and emotional distress. The defendants listed in the suit include the city’s Department of Corrections, the Queens district attorney’s offi ce, the NYPD and its Commissioner Ray Kelly. Dufault told The Courier last year that King is struggling to get back to his former life after losing his job as a plumber’s assistant while he was locked up. He also suffers from severe back and leg pain and numbness in his arm from mistreatment at Rikers, the complaint says. The victim never identifi ed King herself, the lawsuit says, and the description she gave of the perp’s eyes and hair color did not match King’s. The DNA test was also done six months after the attack, though defense attorneys say they requested it be taken immediately. The city’s law department declined to comment as it awaits a formal copy of the complaint, a spokesperson said. Prayers for synagogue Fears it will be demolished BY MELISSA CHAN mchan@queenscourier.com A growing congregation in Rego Park fears their beloved synagogue will be demolished in the near future despite assurances from the site’s new owner that it will remain. Supporters of the Ohr Natan synagogue, built in the former Trylon movie theater, have collected more than 1,300 petition signatures so far in their efforts to keep their congregation on site. They say new property owners, Trylon LLC, have plans to demolish the house of worship and temporarily move the congregation in about four years when their contract expires. “My life has changed because of this synagogue,” said Ester Davidov, a congregation member. “We don’t want this to be destroyed. It means everything now.” Rabbi Nahum Kaziev, who heads Ohr Natan, said the synagogue sees about 1,000 people weekly and almost 50,000 annually. “It is a fi rst home to some people, a second home to others,” he said. “We have survivors from World War II and the Holocaust.” Ohr Natan took over the property’s lease in 2002 and poured $2.1 million into renovations, Kaziev said. The synagogue distributes food to 480 needy families a week, he added. It also offers kids’ programs, free language classes and “around the clock” support. “This home might be destroyed. It is unthinkable,” Kaziev said. “It is a holy place. Small houses of worship mean more to people.” But site owner Simon Alishaev, who is also the THE COURIER/Photo by Melissa Chan Rabbi Nahum Kaziev wants to save Ohr Natan. president of the Bukharian Jewish Community Center in Rego Park, said a demolition is not in the plans. Any changes made to the building would not happen for at least fi ve years, he added. “We’re not developing anything for now. We’re not closing or breaking down the synagogue,” Alishaev said. “We’re not throwing anybody in the street.” It would remain a synagogue, he said, but under new leadership and with more programs and services. Still some congregation members said they wanted their synagogue untouched. “It’s hurtful,” said Miriam Ilyaev. “We’re all praying it gets resolved.” Checking that earns like savings. BestRate Checking 1.00APY1 % On balances of $5,000 or more. Plus, get up to $ 1 5 0 when you open a new checking account.2 Additionally, a BestRate Checking account provides you with: Free online banking and bill pay, Free Mastercard® ATM/Debit card, Free direct deposit and more. For more information or to find a branch near you, call 800.581.2889 or visit www.FlushingBank.com. 1 New accounts and new money only. Existing checking account customers are not eligible. An existing checking customer is defined as anyone who currently has or has had a Flushing Bank checking account within the last 24 months. New money is defined as money not currently on deposit with Flushing Bank. The APY is effective March 1, 2013. The annual percentage yield (APY) for BestRate Checking is 1.00% and will remain in effect for 90 days after account opening. At the end of this 90-day period the rate will revert to 0.60% and rate may change at any time without notice. You must maintain a daily balance of $5,000 for the statement cycle to receive the disclosed yield and to avoid the monthly maintenance fee of $10. A daily balance below $5,000 will be assessed a lower Annual Percentage Yield. Fees may reduce earnings. 2 New accounts and new money only. Existing checking account customers are not eligible. An existing checking customer is defined as anyone who currently has or has had a Flushing Bank checking account within the last 24 months. This offer is limited to one checking account per household. Minimum deposit required to open a new checking account is $100. Debit Card Purchases – You will receive $75 for the completion of 5 debit card purchases. Each debit card purchase must be $25 or more. Online Banking Bill-payments OR Direct Deposit – You will receive $75 for completing 5 online banking bill-payments via Flushing Bank’s Online Banking portal OR signing up for and receiving a recurring direct deposit of $250 or more. Each online bill-pay must be $25 or more. Tax refund checks do not qualify as direct deposit. Online Bill-payments, Debit Card Purchases and Direct Deposits must be completed prior to 60 days after the account is opened. THE MAXIMUM AMOUNT ANY CUSTOMER CAN RECEIVE IS $150. The compensation will be credited to the checking account on or about 75 days after the account is opened. A 1099 will be issued in the amount credited to your account. Other fees and restrictions may apply. All offers are subject to change and termination without prior notice at any time. Speak with a Flushing Bank representative for more details and information about these offers. From Forbes.com March 18, 2013. © 2013 Forbes.com LLC. All rights reserved. Used by permission and protected by the Copyright Laws of the United States. The printing, copying, redistribution, or retransmission of this Content without express written permission is prohibited. Flushing Bank is a registered trademark


QC08082013
To see the actual publication please follow the link above