Latest news with #governmentcorruption
South China Morning Post
8 hours ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Ex-New York official facing Chinese agent charge indicted for US$35 million in kickbacks
A former top New York official earlier charged with acting as a Chinese agent was handed a second federal indictment alleging she received kickbacks for steering some US$35 million worth of healthcare contracts to favoured suppliers during the coronavirus pandemic , a federal court said on Thursday. The new charges against Linda Sun, 41 – once an aide to New York governors Kathy Hochul and Andrew Cuomo – and against her husband and co-defendant, Chris Hu, 40, included wire fraud, bribery, tax evasion and conspiracy to defraud the US. 'As alleged, Linda Sun not only acted as [an] unregistered agent of the government of the People's Republic of China but also enriched herself to the tune of millions of dollars when New York state was at its most vulnerable' during the start of the pandemic, US attorney Joseph Nocella with the Eastern District of New York said in a statement. 'When masks, gloves and other protective supplies were hard to find, Sun abused her position of trust to steer contracts to her associates so that she and her husband could share in the profits,' he added. Details of the superseding indictment were released on Thursday after the additional charges were handed down on Wednesday. Sun accompanied by her husband, Chris Hu, who also faces US federal charges. Photo: Reuters As outlined in court documents, in early 2020, Sun and a team of state employees drew on her connections in Beijing to obtain highly sought-after protective gear.
CTV News
11 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Alberta company at the centre of corruption allegations calls for release of audit
Aerial shot of the Alberta legislature on Monday, May 26, 2025. (Cam Wiebe/CTV News Edmonton) An Alberta company swept up in allegations of government corruption says it's being further harmed by the suppression of a report it believes will exonerate them. Medical supply company MHCare Medical is calling on the province's front-line health provider to release an audit into health contracts commissioned by its former chief executive officer. MHCare believes the audit from former Alberta Health Services head Athana Mentzelopoulos may provide concrete proof allegations against its CEO are baseless. Mentzelopoulos is suing Premier Danielle Smith's government for wrongful dismissal, claiming she was fired for looking into questionable, overpriced contracts. MHCare is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, but contracts it had with AHS were part of the examination by a law firm that is referenced in court documents. The province has denied any wrongdoing, arguing in court documents that Mentzelopoulos was fired for poor job performance and for dragging her feet on health-care reforms. The contracts are the focus of three investigations, and MHCare says the repeated delays are unfair as the allegations tarnish their reputation and leave CEO Sam Mraiche with no chance to clear his name. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2025. Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Alberta company at the centre of corruption allegations calls for release of audit
EDMONTON — An Alberta company swept up in allegations of government corruption says it's being further harmed by the suppression of a report it believes will exonerate them. Medical supply company MHCare Medical is calling on the province's front-line health provider to release an audit into health contracts commissioned by its former chief executive officer. MHCare believes the audit from former Alberta Health Services head Athana Mentzelopoulos may provide concrete proof allegations against its CEO are baseless. Mentzelopoulos is suing Premier Danielle Smith's government for wrongful dismissal, claiming she was fired for looking into questionable, overpriced contracts. MHCare is not named as a defendant in the lawsuit, but contracts it had with AHS were part of the examination by a law firm that is referenced in court documents. The province has denied any wrongdoing, arguing in court documents that Mentzelopoulos was fired for poor job performance and for dragging her feet on health-care reforms. The contracts are the focus of three investigations, and MHCare says the repeated delays are unfair as the allegations tarnish their reputation and leave CEO Sam Mraiche with no chance to clear his name. This report by The Canadian Press was first published June 26, 2025. Lisa Johnson, The Canadian Press
Russia Today
20 hours ago
- Politics
- Russia Today
Deaths reported during protests in Kenya (VIDEO)
At least eight people have been killed in Kenya during nationwide protests against police brutality and alleged government corruption, the East African country's National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR), has reported. More than 400 people, including journalists and police officers, were injured during the protests, held across 23 counties on Wednesday, the commission said in a statement. 'Most of them were treated and discharged, eighty-three (83) of them were referred for specialized treatment, eight (8) with gunshot wounds,' KNCHR stated. Irungu Houghton, executive director of the non-profit human rights organization Amnesty International in Kenya, told Reuters that at least 16 people had been 'verified as dead,' most of them 'killed by police.' The latest rallies are being held to commemorate last year's youth-led demonstrations against a controversial finance bill aimed at raising $2.7 billion in revenue to service government debt, during which at least 60 people were killed by security forces, according to rights groups. Ni kama Thika Road have managed.# On Wednesday, thousands of young Kenyans took to the streets, with some in the capital, Nairobi, waving national flags and holding placards featuring images of those killed last year, chanting 'Ruto must go' in reference to President William Ruto. Some protesters, cornered in a blocked alley, were caught on camera pleading with CNN reporter Larry Madowo not to leave, fearing they would 'get killed' if he did. As the reporter spoke with them, riot police fired teargas in their direction, leaving the protesters gasping for breath. 'We are demonstrating peacefully. As you can see, we have nothing, I only have my phone…but we have been cornered and we are afraid for our lives,' one of the protesters, who had been rounded up along with security guards, told Madowo while on his knees. Kenyan police cornered peaceful protesters in a blocked alley, beat them up, then teargassed them. "Larry ukienda tutauliwa," one of them said. "If you leave, we'll get killed."Police brutality during protests against police brutality Other clips show main roads into the capital's central business district blocked, while government buildings were barricaded with razor wire. The Kenyan Communications Authority had initially ordered TV and radio stations to stop live coverage of the protests, but the directive was later overturned by the Nairobi High Court. The anniversary marches come amid widespread outrage over the death of 31-year-old blogger Albert Ojwang, who was killed in custody earlier this month after criticizing a senior police officer. Six people, including three policemen, were charged with murder in connection to Ojwang's death, though they all pleaded not guilty. While police have stated that protests are allowed if peaceful and unarmed, two officers were arrested last week for shooting an unarmed civilian during a protest in Nairobi over Ojwang's death.
Associated Press
2 days ago
- Politics
- Associated Press
Photos show demonstrators in Kenya clashing with police
NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Thousands of protesters against police brutality and government corruption clashed with police in Nairobi, who hurled tear gas canisters and wielded batons, leaving several people injured as demonstrations spread around Kenya. The protests were timed to mark the anniversary of anti-tax demonstrations in which 60 people were killed and 20 others remain missing. ___ This is a photo gallery curated by AP photo editors.
