美国逮捕前联合国官员（在线收听）

AS IT IS 2015-10-10 US Arrests Former UN Official 美国逮捕前联合国官员

A former United Nations General Assembly president was arrested in the United States this week.

联合国大会一位前主席本周在美国被捕。

John Ashe is accused of accepting over $1 million and cheating on taxes to help support the interests of a Chinese businessman. A U.S. government official told reporters that Mr. Ashe sold himself and the international agency he led.

约翰·阿什(John Ashe)被指控受贿超过1百万美元并逃税漏税，帮助维护一位中国商人的利益。一位美国政府官员告诉记者，阿什出卖了自己以及他所领导的国际机构。

He was Antigua and Barbuda’s ambassador to the UN from 2004 until 2013. At that time, he was elected as the president of the 68th session of the General Assembly.

他是2004年至2013年期间安提瓜和巴布达驻联合国大使。当时，他当选为第68届联合国大会主席。

John Ashe, who is 61 years old, was arrested on Tuesday at his home, just outside New York City. The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, described the charges against Mr. Ashe. They include accepting at least $1.3 million dollars in bribes in 2013 and 2014. The attorney also says Mr. Ashe did not pay U.S. taxes on the money and gifts he received. The gifts were said to include Rolex watches and a private basketball court.

61岁的阿什于周二在纽约市郊的家中被逮捕。纽约南部地区律师Preet Bharara对阿什先生的控罪做出了解释。控罪包括在2013年和2014年收受至少130万美元贿赂。这位律师还表示，阿什先生收到这些金钱和礼物后没有向美国缴税。据称这些礼物包括劳力士手表和一个私人篮球场。

Chinese billionaire

中国亿万富豪

John Ashe is accused of taking the money from a Chinese businessman named Ng Lap Seng, also known as David Ng. Mr. Ng is a billionaire from Macau. He was arrested last month on separate charges.

阿什被指控收受来自中国商人吴立胜的贿赂。吴立胜是澳门亿万富翁。他上个月因为其它罪名被逮捕。

U.S. government lawyers say Mr. Ng wanted Mr. Ashe to persuade UN officials to build a conference center in Macau. Mr. Ashe reportedly wrote and prepared an official UN document supporting Mr. Ng’s proposal.

美国政府律师表示，吴立胜希望阿什说服联合国官员在澳门兴建一座会议中心。据报道，阿什起草并递交了一份联合国官方文件来支持吴立胜的倡议。

U.S. officials have charged Mr. Ashe and five others in the complaint. The five include Francis Lorenzo, who is the current deputy ambassador of the Dominic Republic to the UN. The four others are Chinese business associates of Mr. Ng. 

美国官员在控诉中指控了阿什和其他5人。这5人包括多米尼克共和国驻联合国副大使Francis Lorenzo。另外4人是吴先生的中国生意伙伴。

UN shocked

联合国震惊

A UN spokesperson told reporters that the US government did not tell the secretariat about the investigation. He added that the secretary-general was “shocked and deeply troubled” by the charges.

联合国一位发言人告诉记者，美国政府并未将调查情况告知秘书处。他补充说，秘书长对这起指控感到震惊和深切的不安。

The tax charges against Mr. Ashe carry a punishment of up to six years in prison. However, government lawyers say the final charges against him could be more severe.

针对阿什的逃税控罪最高可判处6年监禁。然而，政府律师表示，针对他的最终控罪可能会更加严重。

Words in This Story

bribes – n. illegal or unlawful payments

complaint – n. a formal charge saying that someone has done something wrong

associates – n. aides; people who you work with or spend time with