SLEUTHS FIND U.N. OIL $TASH

NEW YORK POST ^ | July 18, 2005 | NILES LATHEM

[neverdem]

WASHINGTON — Investigators have discovered overseas bank accounts belonging to disgraced U.N. oil-for-food program head Benon Sevan that could unlock the mystery over whether he profited from dirty deals with Saddam Hussein, The Post has learned.

Sources close to the numerous probes of the giant U.N. scandal revealed that investigators have recently discovered that Sevan, who lives in New York, has accounts in Switzerland, Turkey and Cyprus — countries with notoriously tight bank secrecy laws.

Massive behind-the-scenes efforts are under way by investigative agencies to gain access to the records, according to officials with two separate agencies involved in the U.N. probe.

Sevan, who is now under suspension from the United Nations, will be the focus of one of three reports expected to be issued over the next several weeks by the Independent Inquiry Commission, headed by former Federal Reserve Board Chairman Paul Volcker.

Manhattan District Attorney Robert Morgenthau is conducting a criminal probe of Sevan's alleged dealings. At least two congressional panels are also expected to issue reports in the fall about Sevan's oil dealings.

Sevan, the former executive director of the scandal-scarred, $64 billion humanitarian aid program to Iraq, remains unable to return to the U.N. headquarters without permission, under the terms of his suspension.

Sevan, a native of Cyprus, has repeatedly denied that he took oil bribes from Saddam's regime and said he is being made a scapegoat.

In its February report, the Volcker commission discovered Iraqi Oil Ministry documents indicating that Sevan was awarded sweetheart oil deals through a Panamanian-registered company owned by a relative of ex-U.N. Secretary-General Boutros Boutros-Ghali.

The commission stopped short of accusing Sevan of accepting bribes, saying it had not been able to trace money from the deals between Iraq and the Panamanian company directly to him. But the Volcker panel said...

[martin_fierro]

Meanwhile, shredding at the UN continues.

[lilylangtree]

Been wonderin' when those foreign bank accounts would surface. Glad to see that it occurred! Did think that ole Kofi and son would have a couple tucked away in the Caymans.

[TUX]

Sevan the sacrificial bag lamb.

[sure_fine]

I hope he rolls when they nail his ass

[neverdem]

Thanks for the link.

[DB]

When they find the hidden accounts belonging to George Galloway then I'll be happy.

[snarks_when_bored]

Somewhere back in his past, Benon Sevan was faced with a question:

Shall I take the money or shall I try to be an honorable man?

His answer becomes clearer to the rest of us almost daily.

[Gatún(CraigIsaMangoTreeLawyer)]

I didn’t read the entire article since I am not going to sign in. But, the following is interesting:

“The commission stopped short of accusing Sevan of accepting bribes, saying it had not been able to trace money from the deals between Iraq and the Panamanian company directly to him. But the Volcker panel said...”

Yes they can trace the money to Sevan in Panama. Panamanian secrecy laws do not apply to Sevan if it is found he is using these accounts for laundering money. The same goes for narco money. They will give his name up as fast as you can snap your fingers.

[ocr1]

ping

[Fedora]

Ping.

[backhoe]

Son of a !

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.

[Just mythoughts]

Bump!!!!!

[nw_arizona_granny]

Ping

[sgtbono2002]

I have heard enough about the oil fo food scandal. Paul Voelker said there was no scandal and he is an honest man.

Bwahahahahahahahaha

[mewzilla]

When they find the hidden accounts belonging to George Galloway then I'll be happy.

Let's not stop with George :)

I can think of some American pols, bureacrats, and businessmen who should be grilled right along with Galloway.

[Tacis]

I'm afraid this story will quickly go away at the first published evidence of Willie's involvement. Wher ever this UN sleaze had this secret account, check to see if Willie has one there, too. It may be in Vince Foster's name, it may be in another name that clearly is Willie.

The monixca matter was simple distraction from a much bigger crime. The bigger crime was Iraqi oil money and Willie's connection with Saddam and OBL. That is why the silly neocommunist dems keep whining about no connection, not so much to discredit W but to avoid the truth about Wille.

So, if there are honest investigators traking the UN crooks and Iraqi oil, add some questions to cover Willie.

[ScaniaBoy]

Remeber UN Oil for Food also contains what looks like an Arkancide.

Bevan's aunt who he said had given him the money that appeared on the first bank account that was found died when she fell down an elevator shaft. So she could never be questioned about the gifts....

....just bad luck.

[danamco]

Clown-wilson/plame???

[alrea]

Bevan's aunt who he said had given him the money that appeared on the first bank account

Amazing.

And this is the aunt of Benan Sevan?