Former UN General Assembly President, John Ashe, was charged by U.S. authorities on Tuesday, for allegedly taking more than $1.3 million in bribes from real estate billionaire, Ng Lap Seng, in an expansive corruption scheme. John Ashe was General Assembly President from 2013-2014 and the U.N. ambassador from Antigua and Barbuda.
In return for the bribes, prosecutors say that Mr. Ashe used his positions to introduce a UN document supporting a multibillion-dollar UN-sponsored conference centre that Mr. Ng hoped to build. The complaint sets out that between 2012 and 2014, more than $3 million was deposited into bank accounts controlled by Mr. Ashe from foreign governments and individuals. However, the complaint is limited to charging Mr. Ashe with tax offenses, which are apparently not covered by his diplomatic immunity.
Manhattan U.S. Attorney Preet Bharara who announced the arrests today 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.”
Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, Stephane Dujarric, said he was “shocked and deeply troubled” by the charges.
In addition to Mr. Ashe and Mr. Ng, four others are being held by U.S. authorities including another diplomat, Francis Lorenzo from the Dominican Republic. Bharara said the investigation was ongoing and could likely result in more charges.