by Matthew Russell Lee, Patreon Book Substack
UN GATE, Aug 19 – How corrupt is the United Nations? Well, as we reported on July 31, 2023, former UN Assistant Thomas Stelzer irregular payment to whom Inner City Press asked the UN Spokesperson about until it was thrown out of the UN, has now been suspended as head of the International Anti-Corruption Academy for, what else, corruption.
The suspension, confirmed by Stelzer himself, is about private trips that were declared as professional and incorrectly charged expenses. In addition, earmarked funds are said not to have been used for the intended projects. The public prosecutor's office in Wiener Neustadt confirmed on request that they were examining an initial suspicion.
Inner City Press, before ouster orchestrated by UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres and his spokesman Stephane Dujarric asked then UN Spokesperson Martin Nesirky, "what are the specifics of working at the UN without a contract? It said that Mr. Stelzer is being paid as, almost as a consultant, although he is an ASG, at least on paper.
Nesirky, still employed by the UN in Vienna, replied, Well, I don’t think right here and now I would want to get into individual personnel cases. I don’t think that is appropriate.
Now by contrast to the UN of Antonio Guterres and Stephane Dujarric, refusing to answer this and other questions, this from Stelzer: "Dear Matthew Russel Lee, Just becoming aware that I have returned to Inner City Press. I appreciate your efforts to enhance transparency. This is what I have been pursuing all my life. Regarding the anonymous allegations brought against me as Dean of the International Anti-Corruption Academy, I have informed friends and colleagues (transparently and pro-actively). For your information, I am copying that message into this mail. In the meantime, I have responded in writing to all anonymous allegations, which I believe are completely false and also without criminal relevance. I am confident that my explanation will disprove all allegations, that the State Prosecutor‘s Office will discontinue the investigation and that I will be able to return to my job to continue offering technical assistance and capacity building to practitioners in the fight against corruption. With my best regards. Thomas Stelzer
Inner City Press has been banned from the UN, and no response yet to its June 19, 2023 application to re-enter and cover the September 2023 UNGA week. Is that appropriate? Watch this site.
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