Posted on 03/22/2005 7:52:44 PM PST by mardler
Kojo Annan, son of Kofi Annan, United Nations secretary-general, received at least $300,000 from Cotecna, a Swiss inspection company awarded a contract ultimately worth about $60m under the Iraqi oil-for-food contract.
The amount was almost double the sum previously disclosed, but payments were arranged in ways that obscured where the money came from or whom it went to.
The discovery, in a joint investigation by Il Sole 24 Ore, the Italian business daily, and the Financial Times, comes as the independent UN inquiry led by Paul Volcker into possible abuses within the oil-for-food programme prepares to publish a new report on this matter.
Its findings, expected next Tuesday, will address allegations that Kojo's family connections may have helped Cotecna obtain the UN contract.
Kojo Annan worked for Cotecna in Nigeria until December 1997. He was later retained first as a consultant and then on an unusual non-compete contract. Cotecna categorically denies any impropriety.
It insists his work had nothing to do with the UN contract and that it never took advantage of Kojo's access to the secretary-general.
But the FT/Il Sole investigation reveals that senior executives from Cotecna met Kofi Annan on various occasions once at his UN office.
A UN spokesman said the meetings had nothing to do with a contract awarded under the oil-for-food programme. Kojo Annan declined to comment.
In November Kofi Annan said he was very disappointed and surprised after it emerged that Kojo had received monthly non-compete payments from Cotecna four years after the relationship was believed to have ended.
Ya think?
Another story opened by a Freeper?
(Ie. the Dan. Docs.)
Where's Captain Obvious when you need him?
At your service!
Look what else this article says:
Ama Anna, Kojo's sister, was paid off too. And Kofi lied about the number and type of meetings with Cotecna.
Yes, you're right. The gig's up.
Ping!
Geeeee, wonder why ol' Kofi suddenly (this week) started touting His All-New Plan for a wholesale revamp/restructuring/clean-up of the UN???? Could it be related? Could it be to try and keep his job/credibility?? Nahhhh - he cares for us, right??
Aside from his "relationship" to the corrupt, incompetent, Kofi Annan --- what marketable skills or expertise did Kojo have that attracted this Swiss Corporation to the table?????
Father and Son --- profiting on the deaths of Iraqi children and American citizens....
WHERE is the outrage.....WHERE is the rope to hang these bastards?????
Semper Fi
~snip~
But the FT/Il Sole investigation reveals that senior executives from Cotecna met Kofi Annan on various occasions once at his UN office.
~snip~
Kofi Annan is on record as saying he would waive diplomatic immunity in the event of criminal indictments (and would ask other UN employees to do so, but the fact is they can claim it individually). Fat chance he'll honor that, but still I would like to see indictments brought.
bttt
I was thinking the same thing. He quickly got religion, but his efforts are mostly aimed at keeping his job.
Perhaps "Der shlickmiester"!
HE could work around the woes of the UN issues after all, right?
$300,000
bttt
Did you know that Koffi used to be a hot dog vendor? That could buy alot of hot dogs.
homework
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