JOHANNESBURG, April 12 (Reuters) – South Africa’s MTN
on Thursday denied allegations it used corrupt
practices and promises of military weapons to win its licence in
Iran, the first time the mobile operator has clearly rejected
the two-month old charges from rival Turkcell.
“Any suggestion that Turkcell’s failure to obtain the
licence was as a result of any alleged corrupt or improper
practices by MTN is unfounded,” MTN’s CEO Sifiso Dabengwa said
in a statement.
“The allegation that MTN influenced South African foreign
policy with regard to its armaments and nuclear position is
simply ludicrous and has already been dismissed by the South
African government.”
MTN has previously said that it believes the case – which
was filed by Turkcell in a U.S. court late last month – lacks
legal merit.
(Reporting by David Dolan, editing by Ed Stoddard)
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