STOCKHOLM — TeliaSonera rebutted allegations that two of its employees engaged in bribery and money laundering while starting operations in Uzbekistan several years ago, despite new evidence from prosecutors.
"We are convinced that the ongoing investigations will clarify that we have not bribed anyone or participated in money laundering," TeliaSonera said last week.
In 2007, TeliaSonera signed a 2.3 billion kroner ($350 million) deal with an Uzbek firm, Takilant, to obtain a 3G operator's license in the country. Last year, reports surfaced in Swedish media that the firm had ties to Gulnara Karimova, daughter of Uzbek President Islam Karimov, and that a large bribe was paid to her to obtain the license.
Earlier this month, Swedish prosecutors submitted documents to a court suggesting that TeliaSonera paid a bribe to Karimova via the Gibraltar-based Takilant.
(AP)
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