Dutch KPN denies corruption charge<\/p>\n
THE HAGUE (AFP): Dutch telephone operator KPN Telecom denied
\nMonday paying bribes of at least 25 million guilders (11.3
\nmillions euro) in order to gain entry to the Indonesian market.<\/p>\n
The rebuttal followed accusations broadcast Sunday night by
\nthe news magazine Netwerk on Dutch public television.<\/p>\n
\"We became involved because there were interesting business
\nopportunities. No money has been siphoned off. We have never
\ntransferred money to fake accounts in Hong Kong,\" said a
\nspokesman for KPN Monday.<\/p>\n
According to the NOS, these payments were intended for
\ndecision-makers likely to favor KPN's entry into the Indonesian
\ntelecommunications market.<\/p>\n
The KPN spokesman also denied the program's claim that KPN
\n\"risked\" 200 million guilders (90.7 million euro) in 1996, acting
\nas guarantor for a \"friend\" of the then Indonesian
\ntelecommunications minister.<\/p>\n
The program asserted that this kind of transaction is a common
\nform of bribery in Indonesia. The sum was equivalent to 10% of
\nKPN's net profit that year.<\/p>\n
Members of parliament have requested an explanation from the
\nDutch telecommunications minister Monique de Vries.<\/p>\n
The KPN group, which has gradually been privatized since 1994,
\nis still 44 percent owned by the state.<\/p>\n
This is the second time in three months that the Dutch media
\nhave accused KPN of irregular business practices.<\/p>\n
In January this year the NOS accused KPN of bribery when
\nbidding for a stake in the Czech public telephone operator SPT.<\/p>\n
KPN denied these allegations. After investigating the case,
\nMinister De Vries saw no reason for further action at the time.<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/dutch-kpn-denies-corruption-charge-1447893297",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
"sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com"
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