By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MANZINI: Eswatini billionaire businessman Moses Motsa has entered into an alleged illegal multibillion gambling deal with Chinese businessmen in a highly suspected act of money-laundering, a Casino will soon commence operations at Motsa’s The George Hotel.

An independent investigation conducted by this Swaziland News uncovered that, the businessmen allegedly from the Mainland China, registered a company known as Macau Investments, You Wei and Chai Jun are registered Directors of the company and they are allegedly linked to Jin Houyun, the recently arrested Chinese national who is wanted in his home country for allegedly defrauding Chinese citizens over R2billion in an alleged illegal pyramid scheme.

It has been disclosed that, You Wei and Chai Jun, the registered Directors of Macau Investments were residing together with the arrested over R2billion Chinese fugitive at Tubungu, this has been confirmed through documents and/or proof of residence obtained by this journalist, linking the Macau Investments Directors with the arrested Chinese fugitive.

But even though Macau Investments, the Eswatini company established by the Chinese nationals was registered and/or incorporated on the 20th January 2023, the company currently does not have a gambling license issued by the Gaming Board under the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs, empowering the Directors to establish the Casino and commence the provision of gambling services.

Parliament is currently debating and in the process of introducing new gambling regulations amid negative gambling impacts in the tiny Kingdom where about 70% of the population lives below the poverty line.

Negative gambling impacts include severe financial distress, mental health crises and broken relationships but, addiction causes behavioral changes such as secrecy, reduced work performance, and potential criminal activity to fund the habit thus affecting both the gamblers and their families.

But when this publication contacted Jun Chai for a comment, he referred comments to another Chinese national identified as Daniel who subsequently confirmed that, a Casino will soon commence operations at The George Hotel.

When asked if the company has all the necessary trading documents, he invited a Swaziland News journalist to visit The George Hotel on Saturday afternoon saying he wanted to produce the documents.

“It’s better for you to come or send your journalist to come and see the documents,” said the Chinese businessman.

But after a journalist from this publication visited The George Hotel, Daniel and other members of the Management failed to produce the necessary trading documents from the Gaming Board but suggested that this publication must wait for businessman Moses Motsa to first agree that the trading documents be shared with this publication.

When asked why the trading documents were not on the wall for everyone to see that the company has a gambling license, a Liswati Manager who was with the Chinese joined the conversation.

“We are willing to be transparent and produce all necessary trading documents but, we must first seek permission from Moses Motsa before responding”, said the Manager after a journalist from this Swaziland News arrived at The George Hotel on Saturday afternoon as instructed by this editor to verify if the Casino “has all the necessary legal documents”.

Reached for comments by this publication, Maxwell Dlamini, the Secretary of the Gaming Board under the Ministry of Tourism and Environmental Affairs did not deny the allegations suggesting that, the Chinese does not have a gambling license but asked to consult the Chairman of the Board before sharing a detailed comment.

“Let me consult the Chairman of the Board before sharing a detailed comment,” he said.

It has been reported that, Jin Houyun, the Chinese fugitive who was recently arrested in Eswatini and linked to businessman Moses Motsa, was operating a pyramid scheme in China which collapsed after collecting funds from over eight thousand (8000) investors.

Jin Houyun fled China after the collapse of the investment scheme and his arrest in Eswatini followed a notice from the Interpol National Central Bureau in Beijing.