The Hawks raid MTN offices

[rpm]

The Hawks raid MTN offices

The Hawks have raided the offices of MTN and its law firm Webber Wentzel as part of an investigation related to the dispute between MTN and Turkcell.

Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi told Fin24 the raids happened on Friday, and that documents and equipment were seized at MTN and Webber Wentzel’s offices.

 

[rpm]

Full MTN Statement

Legal proceedings instituted by Turkcell against MTN Group Limited and other companies in the group

MTN continues to defend itself in the long-running litigation where Turkcell is claiming damages against MTN as a result of MTN having acquired a 49% interest in Irancell Communication Services Company ("Irancell"), which was awarded the second GSM License in Iran in November 2005.

On 1 June 2018 representatives from South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation visited both MTN and MTN’s external legal counsel to obtain documents relating to aspects of the Turkcell litigation pursuant to MTN’s original self-reporting of this matter and the Turkcell complaint. MTN is cooperating fully with this investigation.

MTN remains of the view that Turkcell's claim is opportunistic, an abuse of the process of Court, baseless and without merit.

When the allegations made by Turkcell were first raised, MTN appointed an Independent Special Committee under the Chairmanship of the eminent international jurist, Lord Leonard Hoffmann, to investigate the allegations. Lord Hoffmann embarked upon a thorough and exhaustive analysis of the investigations.

He found that Turkcell's allegations, which rested entirely upon the evidence of one Mr Christian Kilowan, were all 'a fabric of lies, distortions and inventions'; and that Mr Kilowan was shown to be 'a fantasist and a conspiracy theorist'.

Lord Hoffmann was also very clear in finding that he was entirely satisfied that there was no conspiracy between MTN and Iranian officials to remove Turkcell from the licence process in Iran, that there were no promises made to procure the South African government to supply defence equipment to Iran or to support Iran's nuclear policy, nor that MTN had advanced sham loans to its Iranian partners, nor indeed that any promises of payment to Iranian or South African officials were made or authorised by Mr Nhleko or Ms Charnley.

The case in South Africa is the fifth time that Turkcell has attempted to pursue legal proceedings in respect of substantially the same issues. Turkcell's four previous attempts, including proceedings before reputable international arbitration panels, failed.

The ongoing attempt to re-litigate complaints that Turkcell have repeatedly litigated without success are contrary to the interests of justice. To the extent that Turkcell may contend that any new issues have been raised in their summons, these issues were considered and disposed of in the Hoffmann Report.

The Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations have been provided with a full copy of the Hoffman report together with the detailed annexures.

 

[JerryMungo]

“The ongoing attempt to re-litigate complaints that Turkcell have repeatedly litigated without success are contrary to the interests of justice,” MTN said.

I hope they're (MTN) recovering legal costs and other expenses...
This is going to be interesting. With the amount of money these guys manage, it's hard not to imagine dodgy motivation.

 

[The_Librarian]

Anybody got popcorn?

 

[JerryMungo]

Anybody got popcorn?

Here, Mtn Dew flavoured

 

[The_Librarian]

Here, Mtn Dew flavoured

:crylaugh:

 

[sajunky]

Ramaphosa support for NWO calls to punish South Africa for supplying defense equipment to Iran, etc... It is not really about MTN. MTN is found in the middle of the battle.

 

[j4ck455]

The Hawks raid MTN offices

[highlight]The Hawks have raided the offices of[/highlight] MTN and its [highlight]law firm Webber Wentzel[/highlight] as part of an investigation related to the dispute between MTN and Turkcell.

Hawks spokesman Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi told Fin24 the raids happened on Friday, and that documents and equipment were seized at MTN and Webber Wentzel’s offices.

Forget about MTN being raided by the Hawks, the bigger news is that the Hawks somehow managed to get a warrant to raid Weber Wentzel's offices.

 

[sajunky]

Forget about MTN being raided by the Hawks, the bigger news is that the Hawks somehow managed to get a warrant to raid Weber Wentzel's offices.

I thought that it won't be a fair trial under such circumstances. I am not a lawyer, could you elaborate, please?

 

[Gordon_R]

Another interesting turn: https://www.fin24.com/Companies/sas-ex-ambassador-seized-over-mtn-iran-license-win-20190215

South African police arrested a former ambassador to Iran on corruption charges related to the award of a mobile-phone license to MTN Group Ltd.

Yusuf Saloojee, 75, was seized by the Hawks, a South African anti-corruption police unit, over allegations he facilitated the cancellation of the Turkcell license by the Iran government, which was then awarded to MTN. Saloojee, now retired, is accused of earning R1.4 million for his role in the process, which was then used to buy a house in Pretoria, according to a Friday statement by the Hawks.

 

[Jings]

Whoa... the hawks are chasing a whopping 1.4 million???
Ok then.

If it turns out Salojee did indeed facilitate the cancellation of Turkcell licence awarded to MTN then it's over a lot more than 1.4 million.

 

[Jings]

Well like the fact that it was a country under sanction.

Not back in 2016 as worldwide sanctions were only imposed in May 2018 as US lost confidence in the nuclear deal.
MTN would have been in a greater deal of trouble if the cellular deal was concluded during the sanctioned period.

Do you think it's possible US already had some intel back in 2016?