South Africa’s foreign ministry has suspended a former ambassador to Tehran after allegations he took a $200 000 bribe to help MTN Group win a mobile licence in Iran, a spokesman said in a radio interview on Wednesday.<\/p>\n
Department of international relations and co-operation spokesman Clayson Monyela told Talk Radio 702 that Yusuf Saloojee, currently ambassador to Oman, had been suspended until investigations into his links to the MTN deal are concluded.<\/p>\n
South Africa’s Foreign Minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said this week in a response to written parliamentary questions that her department had started an investigation into the allegations against Saloojee.<\/p>\n
Johannesburg-based MTN is being sued by Turkish rival Turkcell for $4.2 billion. The Turkish company alleges MTN bribed Saloojee and used other underhanded methods to win a licence over Turkcell in 2005.<\/p>\n
MTN has denied the charges and called Turkcell’s demands “extortionate”.<\/p>\n
An elite South African police unit also launched an investigation but it has not given details of its investigation.<\/p>\n
Saloojee has denied the allegations in statements published by the South African media.<\/p>\n
More on the MTN\/Turkcell saga<\/strong><\/p>\n SA Ambassador to be probed over MTN<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n MTN moves to have Turkcell claims dismissed<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n How MTN allegedly bribed its way into Iran<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n MTN CEO denies \u201ccover up\u201d<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Nhleko wades back into Irancell case<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n Hawks swoop in on MTN<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n MTN denies intimidating former employee<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n