Telecom Suspends CEO Klein

Telecom Namibia chief executive officer Theo Klein has been suspended following a board investigation into an alleged fake N$12 million tender, a Telecom statement announced on Friday.

Acting Telecom chairperson Irene Simeon-Kurtz confirmed the suspension in a letter dated 23 November 2018 that was directed to government.

She said the decision to suspend Klein followed an internal investigation instituted by the board last month.

“The board at its extraordinary board meeting of the 23 November 2018 resolved to suspend Mr Theo Klein,” the letter stated.

The letter further said that Klein would be served with disciplinary charges within 48 hours as provided in company policy.

Klein’s suspension comes just weeks after three senior executives were suspended to pave the way for an investigation into how the parastatal paid part of a N$12 million fake contract.

The three suspended executives were chief financial officer Robert Offner, internal auditor Ben van der Merwe and head of legal services, Jinah Buys.

Klein was appointed as Telecom’s acting CEO in 2014 and eventually was appointed permanently.

Neither Klein or Simeon-Kurtz were reachable for comment on Saturday. – The Namibian