UN official under investigation for misconduct resigns

United Nations Procurement Officer Alexander Yakovlev, who is being investigated by the organization's oversight office for possible misconduct, submitted his resignation yesterday evening, a UN spokeswoman said today.

"The Assistant Secretary-General for Central Support Services accepted his resignation this morning with immediate effect," the spokeswoman said. Mr. Yakovlev was also informed that the investigation by the Office of Internal Oversight Services (OIOS) will continue despite his resignation. No further details on the case are available at this time.

In a separate action, the Independent Inquiry Committee (IIC), which was commissioned by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to probe the Oil-for-Food programme, 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.