New MTN blow as Hawks swoop on ex-envoy to Iran
Saloojee was seized by the Hawks over claims he facilitated the cancellation by the Iranian government of the Turkcell licence, which was then awarded to MTN
Police have arrested Yusuf Saloojee, a former South African ambassador to Iran, on corruption charges related to the awarding of a cellphone licence to MTN after it was initially given to Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri. 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 Telecommunication Services Co in 2005, which gave it a licence to operate in the country. MTN has always denied the charges. Saloojee, 75, was seized by the Hawks over allegations that he facilitated the cancellation by the Iranian government of the Turkcell licence, which was then awarded to MTN. Saloojee, now retired, is accused of earning R1.4m for his role in the process. 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...
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