VOA慢速英语:US Arrests Former UN Official

A former United Nations General Assembly president was arrested in the United States this week.
联合国大会的一名前任主席本周在美国被捕。

John Ashe is accused of accepting over $1 million and cheating on taxes to help support the interests of a Chinese businessman. A U.S. government official told reporters that Mr. Ashe sold himself and the international agency he led.
John Ashe被指控收受超过1百万美元贿赂并逃税，以帮助维护一位中国商人的利益。美国一位政府官员告诉记者，阿什先生出卖了自己以及他领导的国际机构。

He was Antigua and Barbuda's ambassador to the UN from 2004 until 2013. At that time, he was elected as the president of the 68th session of the General Assembly.
他是2004年至2013年期间安提瓜和巴布达驻联合国大使。当时他当选为第68届联合国大会主席。

John Ashe, who is 61 years old, was arrested on Tuesday at his home, just outside New York City. The U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, Preet Bharara, described the charges against Mr. Ashe. They include accepting at least $1.3 million dollars in bribes in 2013 and 2014. The attorney also says Mr. Ashe did not pay U.S. taxes on the money and gifts he received. The gifts were said to include Rolex watches and a private basketball court.
61岁的John Ashe周二在纽约市郊的家中被逮捕。纽约南部地区律师Preet Bharara解释了针对阿什先生的指控。指控包括在2013年和2014年收受至少130万美元贿赂。该律师表示，Ashe先生没有缴纳这笔资金和礼物的税收。据说礼物包括劳力士手表和一个私人篮球场。

Chinese billionaire
中国亿万富豪

John Ashe is accused of taking the money from a Chinese businessman named Ng Lap Seng, also known as David Ng. Mr. Ng is a billionaire from Macau. He was arrested last month on separate charges.
John Ashe被指控收受来自中国商人Ng Lap Seng（或David Ng）的金钱。他是澳门亿万富翁。他上个月因为其它单独的罪名被逮捕。

U.S. government lawyers say Mr. Ng wanted Mr. Ashe to persuade UN officials to build a conference center in Macau. Mr. Ashe reportedly wrote and prepared an official UN document supporting Mr. Ng's proposal.
美国政府律师表示，Ng先生希望阿什先生说服联合国官员在澳门兴建一座会议中心。据报道Ashe先生撰写并递交了一份联合国正式文件来支持Ng先生的建议。

U.S. officials have charged Mr. Ashe and five others in the complaint. The five include Francis Lorenzo, who is the current deputy ambassador of the Dominic Republic to the UN. The four others are Chinese business associates of Mr. Ng.
美国官员在这起控告中指控了Ashe先生和其他五人。这五人包括多米尼克共和国现任驻联合国副大使Francis Lorenzo。另外4人是吴先生的中国商业伙伴。

UN shocked
联合国震惊

A UN spokesperson told reporters that the US government did not tell the secretariat about the investigation. He added that the secretary-general was "shocked and deeply troubled" by the charges.
联合国一位发言人对记者表示，美国政府没有将这起调查通知秘书处。他补充说，秘书长对这起指控感到震惊和深深的不安。

The tax charges against Mr. Ashe carry a punishment of up to six years in prison. However, government lawyers say the final charges against him could be more severe.
针对Ashe先生的税务指控最高可判处6年入狱。然而，政府律师表示，针对他的最终指控可能会更加严重。