U.S.
Former UN General Assembly chief dies amid bribery case
Stars and Stripes
June 23, 2016
Ambassador John Ashe, of Antigua and Barbuda, the former president of the General Assembly's 68th session, speaks during a news conference at United Nations headquarters in September of 2013. Ashe died on Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at his home in Dobbs Ferry, New York. He was 61. ( Richard Drew/AP)
ST. JOHN'S, ANTIGUA — A brother of former United Nations General Assembly President John Ashe of Antigua says the former official of the world body has died amid an ongoing bribery case.
Paul Ashe says his older brother died Wednesday in the United States. He declined to give further details in a brief interview with The Associated Press.
Ashe was a former U.N. ambassador from Antigua and Barbuda who served in the largely ceremonial post of president of the 193-nation assembly from September 2013 to September 2014.
He was accused by U.S. federal authorities of turning the position into a "platform for profit" by accepting more than $1 million in bribes.
The alleged conspiracy involves six others including a billionaire Chinese real estate mogul, two diplomats and a humanitarian organization officer.