Deutsche Welle (English edition)
Ukraine recalls attache over smuggling of gold, cigarettes
Ukrainian investigators discovered gold, thousands of cigarettes and a large amount of money in a minibus that was taking a diplomat to Poland.
Several Ukrainian officials are suspected of smuggling goods into Poland, Ukrainian investigators said on Monday.
The group allegedly included at least one attache of the Ukrainian embassy in Poland, as well as the attache's father who used to serve in the same embassy. Another member of the group was working for the Ukraine's agency for special communications and information protection, authorities said.
What happened?
The consular affairs attache and the Warsaw embassy driver were stopped by Ukrainian border guards while driving to
wards the Polish border in an official foreign ministry minibus.
While searching the vehicle, the guards found 16 kilograms
(over 35 pounds) of gold, over 8,800 boxes of cigarettes, as well as large amounts of cash in dollars, euros, and Polish zloty.
Cigarettes are much cheaper in the ex-Soviet state compared to Poland, making smuggling tobacco an attractive option for residents of Ukraine's border regions.
How did the ministry respond?
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba promised a swift investigation. In a Facebook post, he also said the two were recalled from their position in Warsaw.
"I will never cover up the scoundrels who think they can use their diplomatic status... for personal illegal enrichment," Kuleba said.
Commenting on corruption in the impoverished country, the minister called for cases like these to be made public.
"The attitude of 'let's not bring our trash to the street' must be broken," he wrote. "We should bring it out. Otherwise we will live in trash."
dj/rs (Reuters, AFP, Interfax)
Two people have been arrested in Sri Lanka over the death of a 9-year-old girl who was repeatedly beaten in an attempt to drive out what her mother believed were evil spirits, police said on Monday.
The two suspects — the woman performing the exorcism and the girl's mother — were due to appear in court later on Monday.
The death occurred over the weekend in Delgoda, a small town about 40 kilometers (25 miles) northeast of the Sri
Lankan capital of Colombo.
How did the girl die?
According to police spokesperson Ajith Rohana, the mother believed her daughter had been possessed by a demon and took her to the home of an alleged exorcist nearby.
Rohana said the witch doctor put oil on the girl, before repeatedly beating her with a cane. The 9-year-old then lost consciousness, and was taken to hospital. She eventually succumbed to her injuries.
The woman who performed the procedure was known in the area for conducting spiritual rituals, such as exorcism.
Police urged the public to be careful as the girl was not the first to perish under these circumstances, and said they were investigating further possible cases.
jsi/dj (AP, dpa)