MBABANE:Kareem Ashraff,the influential, powerful and politically connected businessman who stands accused of looting billions within the Ministry of Health resulting to the shortage of drugs in public hospitals,is no longer a diplomat or Indonesian Consular.
This Swaziland News has been sending emails to the Embassy of Indonesia based in Pretoria-South Africa confirming if Ashraff was indeed,a diplomat representing Indonesia amid the allegations of corruption with senior King’s and Government officials.
But sources within the Embassy subsequently told this publication that,there would be no official response until a new Indonesian Ambassador to eSwatini is announced.
On Thursday, King Mswati welcomed His Excellency Saud Purwanto Krisnawan,the Indonesian Ambassador to South Africa who now doubles as the Indonesian Ambassador to eSwatini.
But before meeting the King and presenting letters of credence, Ambassador Saud Purwanto Krisnawan was welcomed by South African President Cyril Ramaphosa last year in Pretoria.
“We look forward to sharing ideas and experiences with Indonesia. We have a number of Indonesian companies and citizens in the country, and I hope our relations will continue to be stronger going forward”, said the King when welcoming the new Indonesian Ambassador at Lozitha Palace on Thursday.
On another note,the new Indonesian Ambassador pledged to promote tourism and trade between his country and eSwatini.
Kareem Ashraff has been avoiding to clarify serious allegations of corruption against him since the multibillion health crisis erupted.
It is alleged that, Ashraff was allegedly using the diplomatic status to launder dangerous drugs to other countries through the King Mswati International Airport and Boarder Gates connecting eSwatini and Mozambique.
Ashraff is alleged to have, through his State agents, earlier justified that, he was a diplomat and therefore immune to prosecution and cannot be arrested.
This was after institutions of the State including Parliament questioned why Ashraff was not arrested amid allegations of corruption, particularly the looting of billions within the Ministry of Health resulting to the shortage of drugs in public hospitals.
But it remains unclear if the State will now arrest him as his alleged fraudulent diplomatic diplomatic status come to an end.
On Thursday, King Mswati welcomed His Excellency Saud Purwanto Krisnawan,the Indonesian Ambassador to South Africa who will double as the Indonesian Ambassador to eSwatini(pic: Gov).