United Nations chief ‘shocked’ by charges against ex-General Assembly president

A magistrate judge set bail at $1 million, citing the relatively light charges.

Mr Ng was arrested in New York on September 19. United in greed, the defendants allegedly formed a corrupt alliance of business and government, converting the UN into a platform for profit.

His words: Corruption has no place in the United Nations or anywhere else.

Diego Rodriguez, head of the FBI’s New York office, said the charges should be a warning “to those who come to the United States from other countries with corruption plans or bags full of cash”. “Investigating public corruption remains a top priority for the Federal Bureau of Investigation”. “He had no knowledge of any of their criminal actions”. “We anticipate a response to all the detailed allegations being leveled against the Ambassador to be forthcoming shortly”. Those bribes allegedly paid for the mortgage on his house, BMW lease payments and Rolex watches.

Deputy UN Ambassador for the Dominican Republic Francis Lorenzo and three other defendants were also charged [press release].

USA investigators are familiar with Ng’s name, which surfaced during a probe into how foreign money might have been brought into the Democratic National Committee before the 1996 elections, when it was working to re-elect President Bill Clinton, Reuters reported.

Lorenzo allegedly arranged for Ashe in 2011 to meet with Ng in Macau, China. In exchange, Ashe allegedly gave his official support for their business deals. The GSF did not immediately respond to a request for comment from BuzzFeed News.

Mr. Lorenzo became a US citizen in 1991, according to the complaint, and can also only claim diplomatic immunity on official acts taken while he was a diplomat.

In April 2014, Ashe visited Japan where he met Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and discussed reforms in the UN Security Council, an agenda Tokyo has been pushing.

Ashe received US$800,000 from Chinese businessmen to advance their interests at the United Nations and with the Antigua government, the documents said. Under the conditions of his release, Ashe is subject to home detention and electronic monitoring, and must surrender his travel documents. Ashe is accused of taking $1.3 million and was arrested in New York, on 6 October. Lorenzo, the NGO’s honorary president, was paid a US$20,000 salary. Ashe was arrested on tax charges that carry a potential maximum penalty of six years in prison. “The government has no details regarding the construction project mentioned in news coverage”.

Billionaire real estate developer from the Chinese territory of Macau Ng Lap Seng, alias David Ng, provided bribe money.

“I am deeply shocked regarding the news today concerning the President of 68th session of the UN General Assembly“.

They were also alleged to have met an unidentified businessman with $400,000 in a briefcase past year. His lawyer told reporters outside court he expects Ashe to be vindicated.

Authorities said in the complaint that Mr. Ashe underreported his income to the Internal Revenue Service by $1.2 million in 2013 and 2014 alone. They each face counts of bribery conspiracy and bribery.

It was unclear who is representing Yin, Piao and Yan.

Asked about whether the UN was involved in the United States attorney’s investigation, Dujarric said the UN was not informed of the case until it was featured in the press.