Eight United Nations managers have been suspended with pay a comfortable allowance and a serving wench as part of an investigation into the world body's procurement services following scandals in the oil-for-food program in Iraq, UN officials say. The investigation by the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services is the result of a probe into contracts in the UN peacekeeping department, which is fielding about 85,000 troops, police and civilians around the world. Four of the suspended managers are in UN Procurement Services and four were recalled from peacekeeping missions, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said.
| So the irregularities aren't associated with oil-for-food, but with the peacekeeping budget. |
"Placing these eight staff members on special leave is an administrative, not disciplinary, measure," Mr Dujarric said. "Staff members on administrative leave who are not the subject of any action will be returned to their posts as expeditiously as possible." The suspension apparently deals with those in charge of projects or contracts where irregularities were discovered in the audit, which one official said raised "red flags". |