Sunday, April 26, 2015

Dutch-Based Telecom Companies Suspected of Massive Corruption in Uzbekistan


The Dutch Ministry of Justice is investigating two international telecom companies, which based in the Netherlands, about the possible bribing of Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of the president of Uzbekistan.  The Dutch prosecution was asked by the Swedish government to conduct this investigation.  The two companies are the Swedish-Finnish firm, TeliaSonera, and the Russian group, VimpelCom.  They are suspected of having paid $220 million via a letterbox company which is owned by Karimova. The potential bribe was made via a trust account operated by a Dutch firm of notaries.  The major Dutch bank, ING, is said to be involved in the transaction as well.  The payments were supposedly made in order to get GSM frequencies and licenses in Uzbekistan.

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