Posted on 11/02/2006 9:13:43 PM PST by SmithL
UNITED NATIONS -- A day after a senior U.N. official was indicted on bribery charges, the United Nations management chief said Thursday an investigation into corruption was "at full throttle" and he urged anyone with relevant information to cooperate.
"The dominoes are beginning to fall," undersecretary-general for management Christopher Burnham told the Associated Press. "Anyone with information about corruption anywhere in the U.N. needs to come forward now before the dominoes reach them," he added.
Burnham, who has been instrumental in pressing investigations into corruption especially in U.N. procurement activities, said the corruption probe goes beyond the procurement department.
"This investigation is as serious as a heart attack and is at full throttle," he said.
The warning from Burnham followed Wednesday's indictment and arrest of former U.N. procurement official Sanjaya Bahel.
In an indictment unsealed in U.S. District Court, Bahel of Manhattan was accused of using his influence to steer contracts worth more than $50 million to a man who rewarded him with valuable real estate. The man, Nishan Kohli, was arrested Wednesday in Miami.
Bahel, 55, pleaded not guilty Thursday and was freed on $900,000 bail. Defense lawyer Raymond A. Levites said Bahel, an Indian diplomat and the former head of the U.N. commodity procurement section, "looks forward to the trial and being acquitted and then getting some apologies."
Bahel was one of eight staff members put on paid leave by the U.N. in January while a new Procurement Task Force pursued allegations of fraud and mismanagement in purchasing for U.N. peacekeeping operations.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
First Kerry, then the NYT, now the UN. What a Hat Trick, baby!
I'll be happy when I see Kofi Annan escorted out of the U.N. in handcuffs. I don't believe there has ever been a U.N. administration more corrupt or inept. Sadly, multitudes paid with their lives because of him.
Now this guy is funny - he should be doing standup somewhere. There's a better chance of Harry Reid and William Jefferson being led out of the Capitol in handcuffs than there is of anyone in the U.N. getting nailed.
I have information, just look into Cojo Anans Swiss and Austrian accounts and take the total balance of each and compare them with young Anan's salary. 100 dollars, please Mr Burnham. I may be cheap, but I dont come free..
Alex, I'd like UN Corruption for $1000.
RYMB
They want to know why there isn't more of it.
If you ask me, not enough people at the U.N. are being throttled.
Bill Clinton was heard discussing directions to Fort Marcy park with Kofi Annan.
Bill doesn't want to inherit a "clean" UN!
Sure, all of the little dominoes.
RYMB ??
what this means is that the probe is receding into the distance and out of sight at full throttle...
"Bahel, 55, pleaded not guilty Thursday and was freed on $900,000 bail. Defense lawyer Raymond A. Levites said Bahel, an Indian diplomat and the former head of the U.N. commodity procurement section, "looks forward to the trial and being acquitted and then getting some apologies.""
He is back in India by now. Case closed.
FYI ping :)
Thanks, mewzilla!
ROVE YOU MAGNIFICENT BASTARD
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