Dominican diplomat in bribe scandal claims immunity: Reuters

New York.- Suspendeddeputy U.N. ambassador from the Dominican Republic Francis Lorenzo has asked aU.S. judge to dismiss an indictment charging him with participating in abribery scheme, saying he has diplomatic immunity. Reuters reports.

It said Lorenzo, 48,filed papers in federal court in Manhattan late on Monday, asking U.S. DistrictJudge Vernon Broderick to dismiss charges including bribery and moneylaundering facing the diplomat.

“He is one of sixindividuals facing charges in connection with an alleged scheme to pay morethan (US)$1.3 million in bribes to John Ashe, a former U.N. ambassador fromAntigua and Barbuda and onetime General Assembly president,” the wire agencysaid.

Lorenzo’s lawyer, BrianBieber, In the filing, “cited Lorenzo’s status as a deputy ambassador to theUnited Nations at the time of his Oct. 6 arrest and during the period ofalleged wrongdoing in the indictment.”

"As such, Lorenzois protected from prosecution by virtue of his diplomatic agent immunity,"Bieber wrote.

Lorenzo was suspendedafter the charges were announced.