Former UN official from Russia charged with money laundering
NEW YORK, November 10 - A former UN official from Russia has made his second appearance in a New York court after being charged with money laundering in a scandal that has rocked the global organization.
Vladimir Kuznetsov, who once chaired the United Nations` the influential budget oversight committee, was in court for 15 minutes for his defense team to receive documents citing the foundations of the charges, which relate to kickbacks and corruption in the UN`s Oil-for-Food program for Iraq.
The FBI arrested Kuznetsov on September 1 on suspicion of money laundering. He was indicted by the court for setting up an offshore company in 2000 allegedly to launder money received from a UN procurement official, who, prosecutors said, had taken bribes from foreign companies seeking contracts with the organization.
Kuznetsov, who denies the charges, is next due to appear in court on December 12. He is currently being held in custody, as bail has been set at $1.5 million to be paid by individuals working in the United States on a permanent basis who do not enjoy diplomatic immunity.
Another Russian official, Alexander Yakovlev of the UN procurements department, was arrested near New York on August 8 on suspicion of receiving $1 million in kickbacks. Faced with a possible 60-year prison sentence, Yakovlev admitted wire fraud, conspiracy and money laundering and is cooperating with the investigation.
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