SG/SM/9954
     ORG/1444
     23 June 2005

Procurement Officer Under Investigation Resigns from United Nations

NEW YORK, 22 June (UN Headquarters) -- The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan:

Mr. Alexander Yakovlev, Procurement Officer, who is being investigated by the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) for possible misconduct, submitted his resignation yesterday evening.  The Assistant Secretary-General for Central Support Services accepted his resignation this morning with immediate effect.  Mr. Yakovlev was also informed that the OIOS investigation will continue despite his resignation.

Separately, the Independent Inquiry Committee (IIC) requested last night that Mr. Yakovlev’s office be sealed to allow them to access materials that might pertain to their investigation.  The UN complied with that request.

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