A customer accounts executive from Alcatel Network (M) Sdn Bhd is expected to be charged with graft today.
The company’s regional customer accounts leader is said to have received kickbacks amounting to thousands of ringgit in order to facilitate the approval of a contract between the company and Telekom Malaysia Berhad (TM) worth at least RM300mil.
She will be charged under Section 10(b) of the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commissions Act 1997 at the Sessions Court at Jalan Duta.
Alcatel Network (M) is a subsidiary of Alcatel-Lucent, which is currently barred from participating in tenders, contracts or joint ventures with TM and Axiata Group Bhd.
The decision was made by both companies following a call by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Axiata had suspended its dealings with Alcatel-Lucent effective Feb 18, while TM’s suspension was effective Jan 5.
Alcatel-Lucent was investigated over allegations that it had used the services of consultants and made illicit payments to win or keep multi-million dollar telecommunication contracts in several countries including Malaysia.
Previous media reports stated that Alcatel-Lucent and three of its subsidiaries had to pay more than US$137mil (RM423mil) in fines and penalties to settle US charges.
Alcatel-Lucent agents were alleged to have paid bribes to officials in Malaysia to obtain or retain a telecommunications contract worth US$85mil (RM263mil) several years ago.
Subsequently, TM set up a task force to investigate the alleged improper payments from Alcatel-Lucent to its staff regarding bids for the then Celcom Bhd’s 3G mobile services.
MACC officers in January seized several documents and files from both TM and a company linked to Alcatel-Lucent in connection with the alleged bribes.
Source :The Star
No comments:
Post a Comment