Bell Gardens : Landlord Sentenced to Jail
A Southeast area landlord who was charged with 153 health and building code violations in October has been sentenced to 15 days in jail and ordered to pay $25,000 in fines after pleading no contest to 50 counts of maintaining substandard property.
The charges stemmed from four Bell Gardens apartment buildings owned by Ben Hoktiongtjoa, which city officials say were rat-infested and had broken windows and leaky plumbing.
Hoktiongtjoa, who owned several properties in Bell Gardens and Maywood, was charged with the most violations of any landlord since Bell Gardens officials began a crackdown two year ago on owners of substandard property.
He was also ordered to reimburse Bell Gardens, Maywood and the Los Angeles County Health Department $250 each for investigative costs, and was placed on three year’s probation, said Cary S. Reisman, Bell Gardens city prosecutor.
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