Telenor: – We do not accept corruption

Oslo.Chairman Gunn Wærsted Telenor.Oslo.Chairman Gunn Wærsted Telenor. Photo: Tore Meek / NTB scanpix

Telenor finds it  unacceptable that Vimpelcom, which is partially owned by Telenor, has performed corrupt payments,  Telenor Chairman Gunn Wærsted and CEO Sigve Brekke said.

Telenor is a company founded on Norwegian values, and we do not accept corruption,  Wærsted and CEO Sigve Brekke writes in their briefing to economics minister Monica Mæland (H).
On Wednesday night Mæland will be informed of the agreement Vimpelcom has signed with US and Dutch authorities.
– Telenor takes a serious view on the evidence obtained from the agreements and is now making a thorough examination of the documents from the authorities, they continue.
Vimpelcom confessed to offenses in a corruption case being investigated in both the Netherlands and the United States in the interim report which was submitted last week. The same day, a draft to a settlement with the US Justice Department, the Securities and Exchange Authority and Dutch prosecutors had been  made. The settlement is that Vimpelcom will pay $ 795 million – over 6.8 billion. The money will be used “for the benefit of the population who are  the victims of corruption and abuse of position”, according to US judicial authorities.
After the news broke, the Minister of Industry asked for a written explanation and a meeting with the Chairman of Telenor.

 

Source: NTB scanpix / Norway Today