Posted on 01/27/2002 1:34:55 PM PST by ATOMIC_PUNK
GENEVA: UN officials took millions of dollars in bribes from refugees in Nairobi desperate to flee Africa for new lives in Australia, the US and Europe, UN investigators have revealed.
An inquiry team., which included investigators from the police and immigration services of Australia, Britain, the US and Kenya, said the ring charged its victims, many of whom had fled for their lives, fees for free UN services and documents
The gang also plotted to kill the US ambassador in a scheme they hoped would be blamed on Osama bin Laden. The investigation found that wealthy Africans were able to buy their way on to UN refugee lists at the expense of those in genuine fear for their lives. The UN Office of Internal Oversight Services said in its report the corruption had been "common knowledge" among staff at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) office in Nairobi, private security officers and refugees.
Investigators condemned the UNHCR for having ignored reports of corruption and strongarm tactics. The UNHCR took issue with some of the investigators' findings, but expressed shame and vowed not to let corruption take root again.
Nine people, including three Nairobi UNHCR staff, have been charged by Kenyan authorities. More arrests could follow. The three UNHCR staff were also charged with conspiring to threaten to kill five people, including the US ambassador in Kenya, the report said. The plot, which was not carried out, involved sending threatening letters using Osama bin Laden's name. Bin Laden is blamed for the US embassy bombing in Nairobi in August 1998.
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Rutid Lubbers, said he was "shamed and outraged". "There is no excuse, no defence, for such contemptible behaviour. "Those who prey on refugees must be punished to the full extent of the law," he said.
Kenya is host to some 250,000 refugees, mostly from northern Africa.
The ring demanded up to $9700 per person to migrate to Australia, Britain, Canada and the US.
Three Singapore airport workers and a former colleague were yesterday charged with smuggling illegal immigrants into Australia and the US. Singapore police said the airport's computer system was used to doctor the foreigners' details.
REUTERS
Ha! Like there's some significant difference??
The Kings cure for the U.N. is
Ask the Taliban if it works. You'll like their answer!
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