Ex-UN senior official in bribery scandal
Print Edition
A FORMER president of the United Nations General Assembly, another diplomat and a Chinese billionaire were among five defendants who have pleaded not guilty in a bribery case that has invited scrutiny of the world body’s operations.
The pleas made in a Manhattan court on Thursday came as each defendant stood in a jury box, their hands handcuffed in front of them. Afterward, a judge refused the government’s attempt to revoke US$50 million bail for Ng Lap Seng, the man whose money is at the heart of the scandal.
Prosecutors said Ng funneled more than US$1 million in bribes to John Ashe, 61, a former UN ambassador from Antigua and Barbuda who served as president of the General Assembly for a year until 12 months ago.
They said Ng was seeking to influence Ashe, who faces tax charges, to pressure other diplomats into supporting a major UN conference center in Macau, where Ng lives.
Bribery and money laundering charges have been lodged against Ng and Francis Lorenzo, a suspended ambassador to the UN from the Dominican Republic. Lawyers for the men have promised a vigorous defense.
After the pleas were entered, US District Judge Vernon Broderick rejected Assistant United States Attorney Daniel Richenthal’s request to revoke bail for Ng, which had been set by a magistrate judge last week.
Broderick did, however, toughen conditions under which Ng can remain in a Manhattan apartment under guard.
Richenthal had argued that Ng has every reason to flee, and the money and connections to do so.
“The risk of flight is severe,” the prosecutor said.
Benjamin Brafman, Ng’s attorney, countered that Richenthal’s arguments were offensive and absurd.
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