A federal judge ordered the release on bond of Honolulu police Maj. Carlton S. Nishimura this morning pending trial on charges of extortion, lying to investigators, witness tampering and drug possession.

Nishimura will have to post a $125,000 bond, $25,000 of it in cash.

However, U.S. Magistrate Judge Richard L. Puglisi also suspended his order for a day to give prosecutors the opportunity to appeal the release.

Nishimura, 55, has been in custody since Nov. 14, when the FBI arrested him after finding methamphetamine in a raid of his Waianae home. Prior to that Nishimura had been free on $50,000 bond.