Ex UNGA Pres. accused with bribery scheme

NEW YORK, Oct 6 (KUNA) -- Former UN General Assembly President charged in USD 1.3 million bribery scheme, the US Department of Justice announced Tuesday.
Ambassador John Ashe of Antigua and Barbuda, who served as President of the UN General Assembly in 2013-2014 and four others were accused in federal court in connection with a multi-year scheme to pay more than USD 1.3 million in bribes to the first in "exchange for official actions in his capacity as UNGA President and Antiguan government official in support of Chinese business interests." According to the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara, "If proven, today's charges will confirm that the cancer of corruption that plagues too many local and state governments infects the United Nations as well." Ashe, he said, "sold himself" and the global institution he led. "United in greed, the defendants allegedly formed a corrupt alliance of business and government, converting the UN into a platform for profit," the US attorney added.
During the course of the scheme, Ashe, who was arrested earlier today, solicited and received bribes in various forms, including cash and payments to third parties to cover his personal expenses, such as a family vacation and construction of a private basketball court at his house in Dobbs Ferry, New York, the allegations reported.
He also transferred the bribery money to his personal bank accounts, primarily through checks he wrote to himself for a purported "salary," although collected his salary from his Government.
UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon's spokesman Stephane Dujarric told reporters today that the UN chief is "shocked and deeply troubled" by the allegations, and that they were not informed of those allegations until today in press.
On his behalf, the current President of the 70th General Assembly, Mogen Lykketoft of Denmark, said that "corruption has no place in the UN." He held a press conference on this issue, and confirmed that he, nor his office, were contacted by the US authorities, and that they are ready to cooperate.
The Chinese billionaire Ng Lap Seng, who was arrested two weeks ago, was among those charged in connection with a multi-year scheme. (end) mao.hb