A former president of the United Nations general assembly turned the world body into a "platform for profit" by accepting over $1 million in bribes and a trip to New Orleans 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 UN ambassador from Antigua and Barbuda who served in the largely ceremonial post from September 2013 to September 2014, faces conspiracy- and bribery-related charges along with five others, including Francis lorenzo, a deputy UN ambassador from the Dominican Republic who lives in the Bronx.
US 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 UNIJ'' He added: "I wouldn't be surprised if we see other people charged.'' The prosecutor said Ashe "converted the United Nations into a platform for profit'' when bribery opportunities were dangled before him by Chinese billionaire NG lap Seng, 67, and others. "We obviously just learned of the very serious allegations this morning,'' Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, told reporters.