Tax evasion charges against cellphone giant MTN Uganda have been dropped, the company said on Thursday.
“Judge Lameck N Mukasa of the criminal division of the High Court of Uganda has declared criminal summons alleging tax evasion against the senior management and board of directors of MTN Uganda null and void,” MTN said.
Mukasa set aside all orders previously issued by the chief magistrate of the Buganda Road Magistrate's Court.
The orders were dated October 10, November 6, and November 19, respectively, and aimed to issue criminal summons.
MTN had approached the High Court to review the chief magistrate's decision.
MTN Uganda CEO Mazen Mroue welcomed the judgment, saying the private prosecution initiated by former MTN employee Naphtali Were had no merit.
“The judgment is a strong affirmation of MTN's strong corporate values of ethical behaviour and integrity. We took the magistrate's ruling for review by the High Court because we view any allegations of unethical conduct against MTN in a very serious light,” he said.
MTN would continue with its criminal prosecution and civil claim against Were and directors of another company “for their active involvement in allegedly defrauding MTN Uganda”, the company said. - Sapa