Africa-Press – Eswatini. SwaziPharm Director Kareem who is facing arrest for allegedly looting billions of public funds resulting in the shortage of drugs in public hospitals, left the country on Tuesday morning and is currently hiding in South Africa at least until a Judge decides whether he must be arrested or not.
This journalist has been monitoring the politically connected businessman through the Home Affairs Immigration Systems after receiving information suggesting that, he might skip the country to monitor the situation or the fresh warrant of arrest application while on the other side of the border.
The Immigration Systems suggest that, the seventy-one(71) year-old Ashraff who allegedly captured State institutions for personal gain, left the country around 8:47am on Tuesday using his diplomatic passport, he was not immediately available for a comment.
But this publication after receiving information from the corridors of power, reported earlier on Tuesday that, the Anti Corruption Commission expressed fears that the highly connected businessman might escape.
This comes after the ACC filed a fresh warrant of arrest against Ashraff for allegedly looting public funds, the Swazipharm Director “has connections in the Judiciary, Parliament, Cabinet, media, police and other State institutions.
The application seeking to arrest the SwaziPharm Director, might be heard by a Judge while Ashraff is outside the country.
Before the ACC filed another application, Chief Justice Bheki Maphalala dismissed the first warrant of arrest application citing lack of evidence.
But the CJ presided over the matter with an undeclared conflict of interest, he is an alleged close friend to Kareem Ashraff and his daughter Pholile Maphalala who holds a senior procurement position, was suspended by the Ministry of Health based on reasonable suspicion suggesting that, she allegedly colluded with Ashraff and other suppliers to loot public funds.
This means Ashraff’s arrest might place the Chief Justice’s daughter in a vulnerable position to be arrested as well.
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