By Technology Times Staff Reporter
Lagos. April 3, 2013: MTN Group says it expected the decision by Turkcell to drop its $4.2 billion lawsuit against the South African mobile phone giant taken before the US District Court of Columbia.
Turkcell had filed the botched lawsuit challenging over the awarding of Iran’s second mobile licence to MTN in 2005.
Sifiso Dabengwa, MTN Group President and CEO, who commented in the wake of the withdrawal of the US court case says that, “Turkcell’s decision to drop their claim was expected, however we welcome it.”
The South African company opposed Turkcell’s claim that it allegedly bribed senior government officials in Iran on grounds that it lacked legal merit arguing that there was no basis for it to be brought before a US Court.
Followed last month’s ruling by the US Supreme Court restricting the ability of foreign corporations to bring before US courts cases alleging corporate misconduct that took place outside the United States, Turkcell withdrew the claim.
According to MTN, after becoming aware of Turkcell’s claims in February last year, its Board commissioned Lord Hoffmann to lead a thorough investigation into these allegations.
Then in February this year, the Committee led by Lord Hoffmann determined that Turkcell’s allegations were without foundation.
The Committee concluded that they found nothing in the conduct of MTN that put at question MTN’s integrity or propriety during the period that Iran’s second mobile licence was awarded, the phone company said in a statement.
The Group CEO of MTN stressed that the country has zero tolerance for corruption and unethical business, and constantly reviews its governance practices to ensure that its actions and those of its employees across its 22 markets are beyond question.
“Now that this case is behind us, we are forging ahead with great determination towards achieving MTN’s newly launched vision to deliver a bold new digital world to our customers. MTN is one of Africa’s success stories, a great company founded on innovation, courage and values of honesty.”
According to him, “our products and services have fundamentally transformed people’s lives across our markets, and we are proud of MTN’s role in accelerating the economic development of the countries that we are active in across Africa and the Middle East.”
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