N.Y. investigates ex-oil-for-food chief (Sevan)

Bakersfield Californian ^ | 7/11/05 | Nick Wadhams - AP

[NormsRevenge]

UNITED NATIONS (AP) - Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau has launched a criminal investigation of former U.N. oil-for-food chief Benon Sevan, the official's spokeswoman said Monday.

Barbara Thompson would not give details of the investigation into Sevan, who came under scathing criticism from a U.N.-backed probe investigating claims of corruption in the $64 billion program in a February report.

It wasn't clear how long Morgenthau has been investigating Sevan. Last year, the U.N.-backed investigation, led by former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, had sought Morgenthau's help in the oil-for-food probe, investigators said at the time.

The criminal probe against Sevan was first reported Monday by the New York Sun. Sevan's lawyer, Eric Lewis, said that was the first he heard Morgenthau was his client was under investigation by Morgenthau.

"Many months ago, I spoke to the district attorney but I haven't had any further contact since," Lewis said. "This was even before the report."

The oil-for-food program, which ran from 1996-2003, aimed to help ordinary Iraqis suffering under U.N. sanctions imposed after Saddam Hussein's 1990 invasion of Kuwait, but it has become the target of several corruption investigations since the Iraqi leader was ousted.

The committee had found in its February report that Sevan's conduct in soliciting oil deals from Iraq was "ethically improper and seriously undermined the integrity of the United Nations." He was also expected to feature prominently in another interim report to be released by the end of the month.

[NormsRevenge]

Can we investigate Jacque as well? ;-)

A newly disclosed memo appeared to cast doubt on U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan's insistence he was unaware of a bid by a Swiss firm that employed his son for a lucrative contract under the scandal-tainted U.N. oil-for-food program. U.N.-appointed investigators were 'urgently reviewing' the memo, Michael Holtzman, a spokesman for the Independent Inquiry Committee led by former U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Paul Volcker, said on June 14 2005. French President Jacques Chirac (L) welcomes U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan at the Elysee Palace June 14, 2005. Photo by Philippe Wojazer/Reuters

[ncountylee]

What a pair. Looks like Kofi is trying for Chirac's billfold , while eying stick pin.

[backhoe]

Crosslinked:

Click this picture & go to the "last" for the latest UN scandals:

If you aren't informed about this stuff, you will be made sick. If you are informed, you will be made mad, all over again.

[SpinyNorman]

Would that be GARY SEVEN by any chance, up to his old tricks? (a little humor for you trekkies out there......)