By Zweli Martin Dlamini

MBABANE: Timothy Matsebula,the Auditor General(AG) allegedly visited SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff at his Mbabane residence at night,to discuss the contents of a draft investigation report subsequent to an investigation conducted by Funduzi Forensic Services.

This disclosure comes amid a high level investigation into the health crisis,Ashraff is not only demanding the report but questioning the legitimacy and credibility of the process.

As a result, Ashraff’s lawyers from Robison Bertram have written a letter to Prime Minister Cleopas Dlamini, the Attorney General(AG),Minister of Finance and the Auditor General(AG),demanding the release of the report.

“Our client first became aware of the existence of the report when the Auditor General(being the officer allegedly responsible for the forensic investigation) nicodemously paid a visit to one of our clients director’s residence and informed him on the extracts of the report,including the fact that the report implicated our client in some form of wrongdoing.The nature and purpose of the Auditor General’s visit is going to be the subject of further action and we do not intend to elaborate on it at this particular stage”, reads the letter signed by Robison Bertram senior lawyer Zweli Jele.

Reached for comments, the lawyer declined to comment, saying he was preparing to file an urgent application on behalf of his clients regarding the matter.

Sources alleged that Matsebula offered to manipulate the investigation report to clear Ashraff, the SwaziPharm Director of any-wrongdoing.

Auditor General(AG) Timothy Matsebula, referred this Swaziland News to Bongile Mavuso, this was after this publication demanded answers regarding the alleged night visit.

“Kindly call my Communications Officer for assistance,Nkhosi”, said the Auditor General(AG) in a message sent to this journalist.

Responding on behalf of the AG, Bongile Mavuso, the Communications Officer in the Office of the Auditor General said, Matsebula met the Consular around June 2023 after Ashraff, an Indonesian Consular requested to meet him.

“The AG mentioned that he had a meeting with the Consular in June (mid) 2023 upon his (Consular) request.This was the time when there was a media frenzy on a story about one investigator having demanded a bribe from one of the investigated officers.The report was only submitted to the office end of August.In short, that is not true”, said the Communications Officer in the Office of the AG.

Kareem Ashraff and other suppliers stand accused of looting millions from public coffers resulting to the health crisis, lawyers from Robison Betrams are highly expected to file an urgent application seeking to force government to release the report.