WIPO whistleblowers beg UN for protection as probe into possible corruption starts

By News on the Net —— Bio and Archives July 22, 2015

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UN investigators have begun interviewing witnesses as part of their examination of possible corruption and mismanagement at the UN's domain name and patent body, WIPO, or the World Intellectual Property Organisation.

Officials from OIOS (the Office of Internal Oversight Services) travelled to Geneva last week to talk to former and current WIPO staff, sources told The Register. This move led WIPO's Staff Council to write to the ambassadors charged with oversight of the organisation about their fears that witnesses could face retaliation from WIPO management. Investigators are looking at allegations that WIPO's director general, Francis Gurry, authorised security staff to enter senior staff offices and take personal items away for DNA testing. The Register