Committee to reopen food programme probe against Annan
By Our Correspondent
NEW YORK, June 14: The Independent Investigation Committee (IIC) looking into charges of corruption and mismanagement in the UN Oil for Food Programme for Iraq has announced that it is reopening investigations in a case involving United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan. In a statement issued here on Tuesday, the IIC said it was ‘urgently reviewing newly disclosed information concerning possible links between Mr Annan and representatives of the Cotecna Inspection Services.’
The IIC said ‘this information was first provided to the IIC late last evening. The IIC will conduct additional investigation regarding this new information.’
In April after the IIC headed by former US Federal Reserve chief Paul Volcker absolved Mr Annan of any wrongdoing in the case, the UN secretary-general claimed ‘exoneration.’
The Independent Investigation Committee was created by Mr Annan following charges of widespread corruption in the UN Oil for Food Programme.
Mr Annan was implicated in the scandal amid reports that he had helped his son Kojo in securing a contract for the Swiss-based Cotecna company for overseeing the programme, which constituted conflict of interest.
