SOUTH KOREA:Kareem Ashraff,the SwaziPharm Director who is allegedly implicated in the looting of over R1billion public funds within the Ministry of Health,resulting to the shortage of drugs in public hospitals, allegedly took a flight to South Korea in an effort to meet King Mswati.
This disclosure comes after this Swaziland News reported that Ashraff, an alleged close friend to Prime Minister Russell Mmiso Dlamini has been trying in vain to meet the King at Lozitha Palace,he then decided to take a flight to try and meet the King in South Korea.
But according to high profile individuals who are part of the King’s delegation,after failing to meet the King in South Korea,Ashraff who is allegedly carrying cash to be presented to the King as a bribe disguised as “setfulo”, was heard saying he might take a flight to Singapore to try and meet Mswati there.
Ashraff allegedly disclosed that he was carrying cash to his “lincusa” while negotiating with others close to the King to inform Mswati that,he wanted “kwetfula” and a few minutes with the King.
The King took a flight to Singapore on Sunday after concluding his visit in South Korea.
“After failing to meet the King in South Korea,he is now planning to fly to Singapore to try and meet him there but akutsembisi”, said an insider who shared pictures.
In one of the pictures, Ashraff is seen standing with others strategically to attract the attention of the King while King’s Office Chief Executive Officer(CEO) Mgwagwa Gamedze greets them.
It is alleged that,the King has been calling for the arrest of those who looted the public funds meant to purchase drugs in public hospitals.
Ashraff who is implicated in a forensic report compiled by Funduzi Forensic Services, has been vigorously trying to meet the King since the health crisis scandal erupted and is believed to be seeking protection.
But the arrest of the suspects is reportedly being sabotaged by Prime Minister Russell Dlamini while Ashraff makes efforts to meet Mswati,an absolute Monarch.
King Mswati is alleged to have told those around him that,the shortage of drugs and the delay in addressing the health crisis might influence the frustrated people to rebel against him.
Reached for comments on Sunday evening,King’s Spokesperson Percy Simelane denied knowledge of any attempt by Kareem Ashraff to meet the King and the subsequent refusal by Mswati to see him.
“We have no record of Mr Ashraf's efforts to see the King and no record of His Majesty's refusal to meet him.We therefore have no baseline on which to build our response to your queries”,said the King’s Spokesperson.
The SwaziPharm Director declined to comment when reached comments by this publication.
But it remains unclear if Kareem Ashraff will eventually meet the King as he is believed to be loaded with cash to be present to Mswati as “setfulo”.
SwaziPharm Director Kareem Ashraff allegedly waiting to see King.