Former UN Official Convicted
When is the last time you saw anything about someone from the UN being convicted? If the defense counsel for the defendant in this case is just continuing to advocate for his client by expressing his concerns over the conviction, then there is no sympathy here for Sanjaya Bahel. But if there is any miscarriage of justice then that is another matter. Currently there is an assumption that the defendant received his day in court and justice has been served.
More compelling would be the question of why with so many UN scandals like crimes in the oil for food program, there are so few proceedings against members or employees of the United Nations? A South Korean businessman named Tongsun Park is the only one convicted in the oil for food scandal as of July 2006.
Stanford Matthews
MoreWhat.com
Former UN official convicted
By LARRY NEUMEISTER, Associated Press Writer Thu Jun 7, 7:53 PM ET
NEW YORK - A former
United Nations official was convicted Thursday of helping a friend secure $100 million in U.N. contracts in exchange for a huge discount on two luxury Manhattan apartments and cash.Sanjaya Bahel, 57, chief of the U.N.’s Commodity Procurement Section from 1999 to 2003, had maintained his innocence since his November arrest.
Bahel slumped in his chair when the verdicts were read convicting him of bribery, wire fraud and mail fraud. The charges carry a potential penalty of up to 30 years in prison.
Ros-Lehtinen Comments on Conviction in UN Scandal Case
Sanjaya Bahel Convicted in U.S. Federal Court for Bribery, Fraud
WASHINGTON, June 7 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — A former senior official
in the procurement department of the United Nations was convicted today by
a jury in U.S. Federal District Court in New York for his role in steering
tens of millions of dollars in contracts to favored contractors. Sanjaya
Bahel, a native of India, received cash, travel and reduced rent on a
luxurious Manhattan apartment owned by a contractor in exchange for his
efforts at the UN on the company’s behalf. Bahel was convicted of bribery,
wire fraud and mail fraud and faces up to 30 years in prison. Statement of
Ros-Lehtinen:
Today’s conviction underscores the extent to which corruption has
undermined the important work of the United Nations. Given what we now know
about the UN’s weak accounting practices, I remain fearful that today’s
conviction only scratches the surface of the unaddressed problems that
continue to fester at the UN.
It is especially troubling that in 2004, UN investigators exonerated
Mr. Bahel for the crimes that he was convicted of today. What does this
tell us about the past investigatory practices of the UN? Secretary General
Ban Ki Moon ought to immediately undertake a review of who was responsible
for Mr. Bahel’s 2004 exoneration and take appropriate disciplinary action.
Although UN investigators reopened the case in 2006, it is unfortunate that
true justice for Bahel could only be delivered by a U.S. court.
I am grateful to the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New
York for his tireless efforts to deliver justice in this case. I encourage
U.S. Ambassador Khalilzad to maintain vigilance over UN procurement and
encourage further coordination between UN oversight authorities and U.S.
law enforcement agencies.
CONTACT: Sam Stratman, (202) 226-7875,
Lee Cohen, (202) 226-1139SOURCE House Committee on Foreign Affairs (Republican Office)