China’s top telecoms makers Huawei and ZTE have been slapped with a two-year ban from tendering for state business in Algeria.
The companies also received a fine of about $38 000 each, after three of their top officials were found guilty of “corruption, influence peddling and money laundering” between the years 2003 and 2006.
Reports say the two companies’’ officials bribed former Algere Telecom executive, Mohamed Boukhari, and businessman Chami Madjdoub.
Reports further claim that the two firms’ execs bribed Boukhari by paying $10 million into offshore accounts set up by Madjdoub.
Algerian courts sentenced Boukhari and Madjdoub to 18 years in prison, and confiscated all their property acquired during the relevant period was imposed.
Meanwhile, three officials from Huawei and ZTE, who are currently on the run, have been convicted and sentenced in absentia to 10 years in prison.
ZTE said it was looking into the court’s decision, while Huawei released a statement saying, “We take this matter very seriously and we are currently reviewing the court’s decision.”
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