South Africa Ex-Ambassador Seized Over MTN Iran License Win
- Yusuf Saloogee accused of taking money to help MTN get license
- Turkcell was originally awarded deal; is attempting to sue
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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. after it was initially given to Turkcell Iletisim Hizmetleri AS.
The case has been the subject of legal claims for several years by the Turkish company, which accuses Johannesburg-based MTN of paying bribes to South African and Iranian officials. MTN secured 49 percent of Irancell Telecommunication Co. Services in 2005, which gave it a license to operate in the country, after the stake was originally awarded to Turkcell. MTN has always denied the bribery charges.