South Africa-based MTN is facing a formal investigation into corruption allegations over how it acquired a mobile licence in Iran. The company said it will co-operate fully with the investigation by South Africa's elite police unit the Hawks. MTN spokesman Xolisa Vapi said in a statement that, as they have previously noted, MTN has zero tolerance for corrupt or unethical practices. He said MTN's board of directors had appointed the Hoffmann Committee to conduct an independent investigation into the allegations made by Turkish operator Turkcell. Turkcell filed a USD 4.2 billion civil claim in March against MTN, in which it accused the company of bribing Iranians and South Africans to get the licence, which was originally awarded to Turkcell. MTN has denied the allegations. Hawks' spokesman McIntosh Polela earlier confirmed that the elite police unit was looking into the claims, Reuters reports. Polela said they first did an assessment to test the strength of the allegations and later decided to do a follow-up investigation.
