Alleged gambling kingpin withdraws bail

MBABANE – Lyu Tao, the alleged kingpin in the ongoing illegal online gambling case involving foreign nationals, has withdrawn his application for bail.

The matter was pending in the High Court. Tao’s legal representative, Ben J. Simelane, yesterday moved an application for the withdrawal of his bail application before told Judge Zonke Magagula. Simelane told the court that Tao’s trial will be held in two weeks. “It will serve no purpose to proceed with the matter parallel to the trial,” said Simelane. He pointed out that Tao may re-enrol the bail if the trial does not proceed. The Crown did not oppose the application. The court granted Tao’s application by consent of the parties. 

Tao is a citizen of the People’s Republic of China. Based on the amended charge sheet, he is facing charges under the Money Laundering and Financing of Terrorism (Prevention) Act, illegal gambling and violation of immigration laws. In the first count, acting with 84 other accused persons, Tao is charged with unlawfully acquiring or possessing E 200 000. This allegedly occurred on February 5, 2026, in Mbabane. In count two (Money Laundering), on February 16, he and the other co-accused are alleged to have acquired E508 000 through unlawful means.

In the third count, during February and March 2026, Tao is accused of engaging in unauthorised gaming activities in the capital city. He is also accused of violating the Immigration Act in that on March 11, 2026, he allegedly unlawfully and remained in Eswatini at the Castle Hotel without a valid permit. Lastly, Tao, on March 11, 2026, at Castle Hotel, allegedly engaged in trade or business without the necessary authorisation. The charge sheet covers 168 counts in total. While Tao is reportedly central to the joint charges at the beginning of the charge sheet, the vast majority of the counts (163 counts) do not involve him personally. The counts in which Tao does not appear (counts six through 168) mainly consist of individualised immigration charges against the remaining 84 accused persons. Each subsequent accused person faces two specific counts similar to Tao’s counts four and five: One for remaining in the country without a permit and one for engaging in unauthorised business. While Tao is a key figure in the initial joint charges of money laundering and illegal gaming, the bulk of the charge sheet focuses on the specific immigration contraventions of his co-accused. 

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