MTN denies bribery allegations by Turkcell (Iran, Africa)

The bribery claims alleged by Turkcell on the MTN Group, saying that the South African group bribed officials in Iran for telecom licences have been denied by MTN. According to reports, Phuthuma Nhleko, former chief executive officer of MTN Group Ltd., has said that he can state quite categorically that during his tenure as group CEO of MTN, no bribes were authorized or paid by the MTN Group to any South African or Iranian government officials to secure the mobile license in Iran. He added that the allegations made by Turkcell are far-fetched and without foundation.

Nhleko also said that MTN’s conduct was not unlawful or corrupt and MTN was certainly not in a position where it could influence or fetter the decisions made by the South African government or any other sovereign state.

As reported by Wireless Federation earlier, Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS alleged in a lawsuit that the MTN Group Ltd. had bribed officials, arranged meetings between Iranian and South African leaders, and promised Iran weapons and United Nations votes in exchange for a license to provide mobile-phone service in the Islamic Republic. Turkcell is seeking $4.2 billion in damages through this claim.