NEW YORK – A woman who bribed a top United Nations official to get support for business ventures has been sentenced to 20 months in prison.
Sheri Yan was sentenced Friday. The 60-year-old pleaded guilty in January.
She admitted paying more than $800,000 in bribes to former U.N. General Assembly President John Ashe, who died several weeks ago in an accident.
Ashe had pleaded not guilty to a tax charge in the case.
Manhattan federal Judge Vernon Broderick rejected defense lawyers' request to keep Yan out of prison. Prosecutors, meanwhile, sought a nearly six-year prison term.
The judge said some prison time was necessary because bribery schemes do substantial damage to the United Nations and its image.
A Chinese billionaire charged with funding bribes for Ashe awaits trial.
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