MOSCOW, October 21 (RAPSI) – Former president of the U.N. General Assembly, John Ashe, along with Chinese businessman Ng Lap Seng and three other suspects were officially charged in corruption case, Reuters reported on Wednesday.

According to Reuters, Ashe, former U.N. ambassador in the Antigua and Barbuda, is suspected of taking bribes from prominent Chinese businessmen, including developer Ng Lap Seng, in exchange for promotion of their interests. Allegedly Ng paid Ashe more than $500,000 through intermediaries to support Macau conference hall building project.

Ng’s intermediaries allegedly include his assistant, Jeff Yin, and deputy U.N. ambassador from the Dominican Republic, Francis Lorenzo. Ng and Yin were arrested on September 19, both men are charged in the latest case, Reuters reported.

Ashe is also accused of promoting interests of Chinese businessmen in Antigua. Allegedly the corruption scheme was organized through Sheri Yan, chief executive officer of a New York-based organization, and Heidi Park, its finance director, who were also arrested, Reuters reported.