The Hawks must investigate corruption allegations against MTN
The Democratic Alliance (DA) believes that the very serious allegations of corruption made against MTN, in a US$ 4 billion lawsuit launched by Turkcell in the United States District Court of Columbia in Washington DC, must be investigated by the South African Police Service (SAPS).
The allegations that the Chief Executive Officer, Phuthuma Nhleko, with the assistance of a small group of senior employees, engaged in what has been referred to as "unprecedented corrupt acts", in order to win the mobile operating licence in Iran, in a scheme known as "Project Snooker", are very serious indeed.
The allegations, which are based on documents, the authenticity of which has not been determined, and which therefore remain unproven, include inter alia the claim that:
- A payment of U$ 400 000 was made by MTN to Iran's former Deputy Foreign Minister Javid Ghorbanoghli for assistance in securing the mobile operating licence;
- a payment of US$ 200 000 was made by MTN to South Africa's former Ambassador Yusuf Salojee to assist with delivering a pro-Iran position at the International Atomic Energy Agency;
- MTN financed a trip by former Defence Minister Mosiuoa Lekota to Iran to discuss the procurement of conventional arms; and
- MTN financed a trip by Iran's nuclear negotiation chief Hassan Rowhani to meet former President Thabo Mbeki to discuss South Africa's position on Iran at the International Atomic Energy Agency.
If these allegations are true they suggest that MTN may have been involved in multiple cases of corrupt activity in trying to secure a mobile operating licence in Iran in possible contravention of the Prevention and Combating of Corrupt Activities Act (No. 12 of 2004).
These very serious allegations cannot simply be investigated by an independent committee within MTN.
I will therefore be approaching General Anwa Dramat, Head of the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation ("The Hawks"), to investigate the allegations of corruption made against MTN in securing a mobile operating licence in Iran.
Statement issued by David Maynier MP. DA Shadow Minister of Defence and Military Veterans, March 30 2012
Click here to sign up to receive our free daily headline email newsletter
