Recent media speculation that Executive Outcomes was involved in the current fighting in the Ivory Coast was erroneous as the company closed for business on 31 December 1998, the former company’s sole shareholder Nico Palm said in a statement on Thursday.
Executive Outcomes and similar companies who offered military services had to close after the South African government passed legislation in 1998 making illegal their participation in other countries’ conflicts.
”Neither the ex-chairman nor myself (who incidentally is the only shareholder) have activated the company or given permission for Executive Outcomes to be used as a vehicle for any activities. The name of Executive Outcomes is therefore being used in a totally fraudulent manner,” he said.
He said a Japanese television crew were currently in Angola filming the activities of a company they call Executive Outcomes. ”This fraudulent grouping of people have reactivated a website (www.executiveoutcome.com) without any permission using being granted for the use of the name or the logo of the true Executive Outcomes.”
The South African Secret Service was fully aware of the circumstances surrounding this impostor company, he added. South African citizens are warned that if they were recruited by people claiming to represent Executive Outcomes, this would be the bogus company and therefore the genuine Executive Outcomes would not be held responsible for employment contracts undertaken in its name. – Sapa