Federal authorities in New York arrested and charged the former president of the United Nations General Assembly and five others in an alleged bribery scheme, part of what prosecutors said was a wider probe into corruption in the top ranks of the international body.
“We will be asking, is bribery business as usual at the U.N.?” said Preet Bharara, the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, during a news conference Tuesday announcing the charges.
Authorities allege that John Ashe, a former ambassador to the U.N. for Antigua and Barbuda who led the U.N.’s 68th General Assembly in 2013, accepted more than $1 million in bribes from Chinese businesspeople in exchange for advancing their interests in the U.N., including support for a planned U.N. conference center in Macau.
A deputy U.N. representative and two employees of a nonprofit organization based in New York City were also arrested and charged in connection with the alleged scheme. A Macau real-estate mogul and his assistant, who were arrested in September on related charges, were also charged Tuesday and remain in custody.
U.N. spokesman Stephan Dujarric said Ban Ki-moon, the U.N.’s secretary-general, was shocked and troubled by the allegations.
“These allegations go to the heart of the integrity of the United Nations,” Mr. Dujarric said.
Officials at the U.N. and the organization’s legal team weren’t aware of the federal investigation, Mr. Durjarric said.
Still, he said, “Corruption is not business as usual at the U.N.”
Mr. Ashe, who is also accused of taking in millions of dollars in salaries funneled through nongovernmental organizations connected to Chinese businesspeople, is charged with two counts of tax fraud in connection, according to the complaint released Tuesday by the U.S. attorney’s office in Manhattan.
The alleged scheme extended from 2011 through 2014, according to the complaint. Attorney information for Mr. Ashe wasn’t available.
Messages left for the Permanent Mission to the U.N. for Antigua and Barbuda weren’t returned. The complaint alleges that Mr. Ashe shared a portion of the bribes with unnamed senior Antiguan government officials, including the country’s then-prime minister.
Ng Lap Seng, the Macau real-estate mogul, and his assistant Jeff C. Yin were also charged Tuesday as part of the alleged scheme. Messrs. Ng and Yin were arrested by U.S. officials on Sept. 19 and charged with lying about the purpose of more than $4.5 million in cash they allegedly have brought to the U.S. since 2013. They have been detained since Sept. 19.
Authorities allege that Mr. Ashe, in exchange for the bribes, introduced documents at the U.N. in support of the planned U.N. Macau Conference Center, a project backed by Mr. Ng. Mr. Ashe allegedly made official visits and speeches related to that project.
The complaint alleges that Mr. Ashe used the money, some of which came through personal bank accounts controlled by Mr. Ashe and his wife, to support a lavish lifestyle, including a lease on a BMW, Rolex watches, travel expenses and to cover the mortgage on his Dobbs Ferry home.
Culled from WSJ
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