Russian telecommunications company MTS will pay the U.S. justice Department $ 850 million fine as part of a deal to resolve the allegations of corruption and money laundering. The second defendant in the «Uzbek case», the American Prosecutor is the daughter of the President of Uzbekistan Gulnara Karimova.
The justice Ministry accuses the USA Gulnara Karimov in bribes and laundering $865 million
According to the U.S. justice Department in an official statement that MTS (or rather its subsidiary in Uzbekistan) have entered into an agreement with Gulnara Karimova and paid her more than $ 865 million in bribes. She is using the political influence of his father, the President of the Republic, provided the company’s preferences and favorable conditions to become the leading telecommunications operator in the country. In the future, received funds thus Karimov was trying to launder through U.S. financial institution, in connection with the whole scheme and came to the view Control of homeland security (HSI), bodies of justice and the securities Commission.
Today MTS admitting liability in the case, agreed to the deal and paid a fine. Position Karimova is not yet known.
Special agent HSI in Washington, Villanueva said the statement that «corruption at this level is poisoning our integrity as a participant in the world market. Thanks to our joint actions in HSI and IRS-CI, crimes Karimova and Ahmedov will be presented before our court, and this corruption will no longer penetrate our borders». «In connection with increasing globalization and ease of movement of criminals believe that their financial transactions are impossible to track, but it’s not» — adds a representative of the IRS-CI. «We will continue to investigate violations of the Law on corruption abroad, to financial institutions of our country are not used for criminal purposes. We are determined to pursue anyone involved in corruption, money laundering and bribery, for their own personal gain at the expense of the U.S. government.»
Attorney for the southern district Jeffrey Berman States that «through a multimillion-dollar bribes through the US financial system, companies and individual defendants tried to persuade the world economy in their favor and fill up their pockets. But they are now paying the price. Today, my Office and our partners in law enforcement send a bold and clear signal that the US financial system is not engaged in business in the bribing of foreign nationals or money laundering. This Bureau is in place to prevent, prosecute and punish foreign corrupt practices, where it would not happen».
The President of MTS Alexey Root made with the official review of the situation: «the agreement demonstrates the willingness of the company to confirm that its policies, processes and procedures strictly comply with the requirements of applicable anti-corruption laws. The efforts made by MTS to improve compliance programs and internal controls, were noted in the DOJ agreement.»
