Prosecutors have charged two veteran Honolulu police officers in connection with an alleged workers’ compensation fraud.

Sgt. Mitchell Tojio, who has 25 years of service, and officer Jim Yasue, a 15-year veteran, are scheduled to appear again in District Court on Oct. 26 on one misdemeanor charge each of tampering with a government record. Conviction of a misdemeanor crime carries a maximum imprisonment of one year.

Prosecutors allege the officers falsified a workers’ compensation claim in 2009 after Tojio injured his wrist.

The prosecutor’s office said the officers were working at a Police Activities League speed and fitness clinic at the Kalihi Valley District Park gym on Nov. 8, 2009.

Yasue approved the report on which Tojio based his workers’ compensation claim for a wrist injury.

Yasue’s report said Tojio was injured when he tried to jump onto a piece of exercise equipment, a 30-inch jump box.

The prosecutor’s office said HPD’s Internal Affairs Division investigated the claim after receiving an anonymous letter from a witness who said that the exercise equipment was unusable that day and that Tojio was hurt when he tried to jump onto a table and fell.

Police spokesman Capt. Andrew Lum said both officers do not have their guns and badges pending the outcome of the court case.

Yasue has been assigned to the Central Receiving Division, while Tojio is now working in Records and Identification Division.

"The department is closely watching the outcome of this case and will take appropriate action upon its conclusion," Lum said.