Former UN General Assembly chief charged with corruption

http://www.france24.com/en/20151007-former-un-general-assembly-head-charged-corruption-ashe



Former UN General Assembly chief charged with corruption
Latest update : 2015-10-07

A former president of the United Nations General Assembly accepted over $1 million in bribes from a billionaire Chinese real estate mogul and other businesspeople to pave the way for lucrative investments, a prosecutor charged on Tuesday.

John Ashe, a former U.N. ambassador from Antigua and Barbuda who served in the largely ceremonial post as head of the 193-nation assembly from September 2013 to September 2014, faces tax fraud charges in what authorities call a conspiracy with five others, including Francis Lorenzo, a deputy U.N. ambassador from the Dominican Republic who lives in the Bronx.

U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara repeatedly noted that it was early in the investigation and told reporters that as it proceeds: “We will be asking: Is bribery business as usual at the U.N.?”

He added: “I wouldn’t be surprised if we see other people charged.”