MTN, Turkcell legal wrangle over allegations of bribery continues

TURKISH mobile network operator, Turkcel, is set to oppose MTN’s bid in the Constitutional Court to appeal a recent ruling that will allow allegations of bribery against MTN to be heard in South Africa.

- NICOLA MAWSON

MTN, Africa's largest mobile network operator, approached the Constitutional Court arguing that South Africa doesn't have jurisdiction to hear legal bids over alleged corruption in Iran, and the matter should be heard there.

In April, the Supreme Court of Appeal (SCA) allowed Turkcell to present evidence alleging MTN committed bribery and corruption to overturn an Iranian GSM licence award. The SCA ruling marked the first time a South African court determined whether misconduct allegations abroad could be heard locally.

On Thursday, Turkcell said it was opposing MTN’s application to the Constitutional Court. In a statement, it said that this was “in Turkcell’s ongoing pursuit of justice for damages estimated at over $4.2 billion, stemming from allegations that MTN paid bribes to Iranian and South African officials to overturn a public tender awarded initially to Turkcell for a multi-billion-dollar GSM telecom license in Iran”.