Telkom’s mystery contractor
Claims of fraud and corruption against Telkom staffers and security companies hired to protect its copper grid are mounting, with sources at the parastatal alleging that another company has been paid R2.4million for doing nothing.
The Mail & Guardian has documentary evidence that Telkom authorised a payment of almost R2,4-million to FBI Security Services on September 29 2009 — just over a month after the company was created. Its registration date was August 25 2009.
Cipro records show that on August 25 Rishen Maraj and Selvan Narainsamy were appointed directors. However, Narainsamy resigned on the same day.
As director of Radio Surveillance Security Services (RSSS), Narainsamy has already been accused of billing Telkom for nonexistent alarm systems.
The invoice in the M&G’s possession shows that FBI Security Services billed Telkom for eight teams of investigators and intelligence services. It is understood that FBI tried to bill Telkom for similar services after submitting the invoice, but it is unclear whether it received further payments.
FBI lacks a valid tax reference number and is not registered with the Security Industry Regulatory Authority, a legal requirement. Sources claim that it is also not registered with the labour department and has not paid UIF contributions, suggesting it has no employees.
The M&G recently revealed that an internal Telkom report fingered three senior staffers for fraudulently colluding with security companies hired to protect and monitor Telkom’s copper cable network.
The report queried why payments to the companies increased by up to 125% between the 2008 and 2009 financial years. Telkom now spends R18million a month on these companies.
It said that RSSS charges R2,6-million a month to supply Telkom with cable alarm systems intended to detect attempted theft. However, Telkom had no supporting documentation for the 593 alarms for which RSSS is charging.
The report added that Telkom pays RSSS R4-million a month for a further 877 alarms for which there are supporting documents, but that the “majority of these alarm panels are redundant and not even at places where they are supposed to be”.
RSSS said that all alarms supplied to Telkom are in place and in accordance with requirements and orders. “We have no knowledge of this [the report’s claims], as all our invoices are accounted for,” said Narainsamy.
This week FBI Security Services’ lawyers, Chetty and Kristan Attorneys, told the M&G that the firm would not answer questions.
“Whilst our client has a valid response and explanation to each of the issues/questions raised by you, our client firstly does not consider it necessary to respond to the issues regarding … its status and statutory obligations, and secondly the nature of its agreement, and the work done, precludes it from responding,” they wrote in a letter.
The M&G also received a letter from Narainsamy’s lawyers, Campbell Attorneys, saying the firm could not take full instructions from its client because he is overseas.
However, they said Narainsamy “is currently neither a director nor a shareholder of FBI Security Services and as such is not in a position to respond. We suggest you direct any queries … directly to the company in question.”
Telkom would not comment on the contract with FBI but confirmed that it is at an advanced stage of concluding a forensic investigation.
Corruption at Telkom << comments and views
Loading ...