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 John Ashe, who served in the U.N. post from 2013 to 2014, already
faces two counts of tax fraud in an indictment filed in Manhattan
federal court.
But prosecutors have not charged Ashe with bribery, despite
allegations he took $1.3 million in bribes from Chinese businessmen,
citing his possible diplomatic immunity. Prosecutors say that
immunity does not apply to the tax charges.
At a court hearing, Assistant U.S. Attorney Janis Echenberg said
prosecutors were "looking carefully" at the immunity issue, and
would decide as quickly as possible about charging him for bribery.
"It is likely if not quite likely there will be additional charges
here," Echenberg said.
 The prosecutor made the disclosure as U.S. District Judge Vernon
Broderick adjusted the conditions for Ashe to be released from jail
on a $1 million bond. While prosecutors argued Ashe could flee,
Herve Gouraige, his lawyer, said he posed "little if any risk of
flight."
The adjustment allowed Ashe, a former U.N. ambassador from Antigua
and Barbuda, to be released later on Monday, following his Oct. 6
arrest.
Francis Lorenzo, a suspended deputy U.N. ambassador from the
Dominican Republic, was likewise released along with Ng Lap Seng, a
Macau billionaire accused of bribing Ashe.
All three will be under house arrest, including Ng, who was released
on a $50 million bond and will reside under the watch of private
security guards at a $3.6 million apartment.
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Prosecutors said Ng, a real estate developer, used intermediaries to
pay Ashe more than $500,000 to seek U.N. support of a conference
center in the Chinese territory.
The intermediaries included Lorenzo, who prosecutors said also
received bribes, and Jeff Yin, Ng's assistant, according to charging
documents.
Ashe also received more than $800,000 in payments arranged through
Chinese businessmen to support their interests within the U.N. and
Antigua, prosecutors said.
They said those payments were arranged through Sheri Yan, who had
been chief executive of Global Sustainability Foundation, and Heidi
Park, who was its finance director.
Five defendants pleaded not guilty on Thursday after being indicted
by a federal grand jury. Park remains in custody, and the deadline
to indict her has not expired.
(Reporting by Nate Raymond in New York; Editing by Grant McCool)
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