Wolfowitz to face special WB panel

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, fighting for his job, was to argue on Monday that the bank’s ethics officials were aware of his role in helping secure a promotion and raise for girlfriend Shaha Riza.

World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz, fighting for his job, was to argue on Monday that the bank’s ethics officials were aware of his role in helping secure a promotion and raise for girlfriend Shaha Riza.

A special panel investigating his handling of the 2005 promotion of Riza was scheduled to hear from Wolfowitz on Monday. The controversy has prompted calls for his resignation. The 24-member board is expected to make a decision in the case this week.

Wolfowitz will cite a February 28, 2006, letter that his attorney characterises as showing that the bank’s ethics committee had looked at the arrangement.

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Panel chairman, Ad Melkert, said in the letter that an allegation relating to “a matter which had been previously considered by the committee did not contain new information warranting any further review”.

The letter didn’t specifically mention Wolfowitz or Riza by name. However, his attorney, Robert Bennett, said the letter is proof that Melkert was aware of Wolfowitz’s role in securing the compensation package. “There is no question that he knew,” Bennett said.