MBABANE:The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) allegedly halted a high level investigation against King Mswati’s Interpreter Sihle Dlamini following what appears to be a highly questionable royal order issued by Mswati.
But an independent investigation conducted by this Swaziland News uncovered that, the ACC launched the investigation after detecting suspicious transactions between 2015 and 2018, and according to the ACC file, Dlamini was depositing millions in cash including United States Dollars.
As a result, the King’s Interpreter’s bank accounts indicated suspicious transactions amounting to about R16million and the money was referenced “King’s Office” only to be moved to some of Dlamini’s personal and business accounts including that of his politically connected Jesus Calls Worship Centre (JCWC).
But the Financial Intelligence Unit, at the time, under the Central Bank of Eswatini (CBE), recommended that Dlamini must be investigated for alleged corruption and/or money laundering.
Efforts to seek a comment from ACC Spokesperson Jabu Phakathi proved unsuccessful at the time of compiling this report.
The Financial Intelligence report seen by this Swaziland News further suggests that, after the Nedbank intelligence unit reported Dlamini to the then Central Bank Financial Intelligence Unit, the Central Bank subsequently referred the matter to the Anti Corruption Commission for further investigation.
It has been reported that, Dlamini was allegedly receiving millions from investors promising to assist them meet Mswati and present business proposals.
But the investigation was subsequently sabotaged after Sihle Dlamini allegedly told the Anti Corruption Commission investigators that, the money was presented to the King and that, Mswati subsequently asked him to bank it in his personal accounts on his behalf.
In fact when referring to the millions in his bank accounts and traced back to the investors, Dlamini is alleged to have told the ACC investigators that, “nawukhandza tinkhomo letisisiwe eSibayeni sami akusho kutsi tami, tisisiwe”.
But worth-noting and subsequent suspicious transactions suggests that, the report suggest that, the King’s Interpreter moved part of the money to the Jeus Calls Worship Centre (JCWC) bank account, he is Pastor at the JCWC and allegedly used the church’s bank accounts as a conduit for corruption and/or money-laundering.
A questionnaire was sent to the King’s Interpreter but, he declined to comment about the allegations of money laundering and using the King’s name to collect bribes from investors.
Reached for comments by this Swaziland News on Sunday, King Mswati’s Spokesperson vigorously denied that, the King stopped the alleged investigation and maintained that, the Monarch spoke strongly against corruption in his Speech from the Throne.
“We are not aware one of us is being investigated by the Anti Corruption Commission. We would not therefore have a clue as to how the alleged file in question stands. However, the last time the King openly discussed corruption with his Speech Team, he registered his prayer that there be detrimental convictions and not just arrests. This position does not point to any protection tendencies on the part of the King. Our experience is that the King’s name is still being used to threaten unsuspecting individuals. To the best of our knowledge, the King does not protect individuals from being investigated,” said the King’s Spokesperson.
King Mswati’s Interpreter Sihle Dlamini.