UNITED NATIONS: Federal authorities in the US are investigating a scheme in which officials at the United Nations, including a former president of UN General Assembly, John Ashe, were allegedly bribed for their support to develop real estate in Macau, a press release by US District attorney’s office said on Tuesday.

Besides Mr Ashe, a deputy UN ambassador for the Dominican Republic, Francis Lorenzo, was also charged in the alleged scheme.

Mr Ashe was arrested on Tuesday morning at his home in New York. A spokesperson for the district attorney’s office said none of the diplomats arrested had invoked diplomatic immunity so far.

“The Secretary General was shocked and deeply troubled to learn this morning of the allegations against John Ashe, the former President of the General Assembly, which go to the heart of the integrity of the United Nations”, the UN spokesman Stefan Djuarric said a briefing.

In statement Attorney Preet Bharara said: “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. As alleged, for Rolexes, bespoke suits, and a private basketball court, John Ashe, the 68th President of the UN General Assembly, 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. We will continue to do everything we can to root out public corruption – whether we find it in a city council or here in the United Nations.”

An official of the Federal Bureau of Investigation said: “The charges announced today are sending a message to those who come to the United States from other countries with corruption plans or bags full of cash — no one is above or beyond the law. Investigating public corruption remains a top priority for the FBI.”

The investigation follows the arrests of a Macau real-estate mogul and his assistant, who are both said to be connected to the scheme.

Ng Lap Seng and his assistant, Jeff C. Yin, were arrested last month and charged with one count of conspiracy for lying to the US customs about $4.5 million in cash that they brought to the US since 2013, the Journal reported.

They were also alleged to have met an unidentified businessman with $400,000 in a briefcase last year.

Ng is the chairman of Sun Kian Ip Group and a member of a top advisory body for the Chinese government. He has also held significant political positions in the Chinese territory of Macau, which is considered the world’s largest gambling hub.

Ng has worked, individually and through Sun Kian, with the United Nations office of South South cooperation which helps build economic and political partnerships among developing nations.

Published in Dawn, October 7th, 2015

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