MTN South Sudan, the largest telecommunications company in the country, has fired one of its senior employees for “breach of anti-corruption policy”.
Multiple sources confirmed to Radio Tamazuj that the senior officer was dismissed last Wednesday for “brazen act of corruption, which amounted to gross-misconduct because of the blatant violation of the MTN Anti-Bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy.
“Thanks for your efforts in executing your duty and responsibility as the most trusted independent media outlet in the fight against corruption. MTN South Sudan has taken action because of your news article that was published on this matter,” one of the sources, who preferred anonymity, said.
On July 23, Radio Tamazuj published an investigation story detailing how two senior employees at MTN and ZTE Corporation South Sudan were extorting kickbacks from subcontractors by threatening to deny them lucrative projects.
The story exposed how a ZTE manager and his MTN counterpart were captured demanding US$50,000 and 10 percent of every Purchase Order (PO) as preconditions for the award of business to a subcontractor.
However, sources told Radio Tamazuj that ZTE Corporation, which is also subject to the MTN Anti-bribery and Anti-Corruption Policy, as a technology partner, was yet to take disciplinary action against its suspected employee.
According to sources, ZTE Corporation has subsequently come under great pressure from MTN to keep the culpable manager off MTN projects, as they continue investigating the matter.
One of the principles of MTN’s anti-bribery and anti-corruption policy is that employees or associated parties will not seek or accept bribes, kickbacks or any improper payments.
According to the policy, non-compliance and/or involvement in bribery or corruption will result in disciplinary action that may lead to dismissal from employment and could result in criminal proceedings and/or civil action.