MTN denies paying former ambassador to pave way for Iran deal
Group again rejects the claim by a former employee that it paid Yusuf Saloojee to facilitate the cancellation of Turkcell’s Iranian licence
MTN has repeated its denial that it paid former SA ambassador to Iran Yusuf Saloojee to facilitate the cancellation of Turkcell’s Iranian cellphone licence. Police in SA arrested Saloojee on corruption charges related to the awarding of a cellphone licence to MTN after it had initially been given to Turkcell. The case has been the subject of legal claims for several years by the Turkish company, which accuses MTN of paying bribes to South African and Iranian officials to secure 49% of Irancell Telecommunications Services in 2005, which gave it a licence to operate in the country. MTN has always denied the charges, but Saloojee, 75, and now retired, is accused of earning R1.4m for his role in the deal. The money was allegedly used to buy a house in Pretoria, the Hawks say. “MTN has consistently denied that there is any credible evidence that it promised ambassador Saloojee any money, or that ambassador Saloojee accepted money from MTN,” the company said in response to questions. “The...
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