U.N. to audit its dealings with entities tied to alleged bribe scheme

Ban asked the Office of Internal Oversight Services to audit all of the U.N.'s interactions with the Global Sustainability Foundation and the Sun Kian Ip Group, as well as the use of any funds received from them, spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.

Speaking to reporters at U.N. headquarters, Dujarric said Ban was "committed to ensuring that funds received from such private entities were handled properly, according to relevant U.N. rules and regulations."

There "will be no tolerance for any corruption at the United Nations or in the name of the United Nations," he added.

In a complaint filed in federal court in New York on Tuesday, U.S. prosecutors said more than $1.3 million in bribes were received from Chinese businessmen, including billionaire Macau real estate developer Ng Lap Seng.

John Ashe, a former U.N. ambassador from Antigua and Barbuda who was president of the U.N. General Assembly from 2013 to 2014, was one of six people charged and arrested.

Prosecutors said some of the bribes were arranged through Sheri Yan, chief executive officer of a New York-based organization, and Heidi Park, its finance director, who were also arrested.

The organization was not named, but the Global Sustainability Foundation website lists Yan and Park as holding those positions.

Ng, also known as David Ng, heads Macau-based Sun Kian Ip Group. Its foundation arm lists several diplomats, including Ashe and Francis Lorenzo, a deputy U.N. ambassador from the Dominican Republic, as holding leadership positions.

Dujarric said on Tuesday that Ban was shocked and troubled by the allegations. The U.N. had not previously been informed of the probe, he said, but would cooperate if contacted.

(Reporting by Louis Charbonneau; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama and Lisa Von Ahn)