SA's former ambassador to Iran will remain on full-paid suspension until the foreign ministry's investigation into allegations that he accepted bribe money from MTN is completed.
Clayson Monyela, spokesperson for the Department of International Relations and Cooperation, this morning confirmed that Yusuf Saloojee, currently SA's ambassador to Oman, has been suspended by the department, on full pay.
Monyela says the department is not issuing any further information at this stage. “I don't know how long the investigation will take.”
Saloojee, formerly SA's ambassador to Iran, has been accused of accepting $200 000 from SA's second cellphone operator in exchange for assisting MTN in its acquisition of a GSM licence, in Iran, in 2005. The claim forms part of a bigger lawsuit and financial claim of $4.2 billion, filed by rival bidding operator Istanbul-based Turkcell.
International relations and cooperation minister Maite Nkoana-Mashabane said on Tuesday that the department would embark on an investigation into the allegations by Turkcell, backed by former MTN executive Chris Kilowan, against Saloojee.
Meanwhile, MTN has repeatedly denied Turkcell's claims, including those of bribery, shady arms deals and human rights violations, and has appealed to the US court where the suit is being heard, to throw the case out. A court decision is expected later this year.
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