Chinese businessman alleges malicious prosecution in ‘Ecoplexus’
Mpho Mokwape | Monday November 3, 2025 06:00
He contends that the State has failed to move his case forward despite several court appearances.
The Ecoplexus scandal that rocked the country early this year involved a pyramid scheme in the country that allegedly defrauded individuals of millions of Pula through false promises of high returns on solar project investments.
In a detailed sworn affidavit, the 43 year old Jiajin describes himself as an honest businessman whose life and livelihood have been destroyed by what he calls a malicious prosecution.
“Since my arrest and extradition, there has not been any progress. This is why I am seeking to be released in bail because my life has been ruined by these accusations,” he said.
Jiajin states that he was granted lawful residence and operated a thriving enterprise under his company, Wajat Investments (Pty) Ltd, which traded in solar power and borehole equipment, generators, and safety gear in Gaborone and Francistown.
He says he was one of the country’s major suppliers of borehole solar power systems, importing goods from China for local distribution. According to him, his company was fully compliant and operated transparently, with audited financial statements for the year ended June 30, 2024 submitted to the court.
He insists that throughout his 14 years in Botswana, he has never been involved in any criminal activity or misconduct and that 2021, he began exploring business opportunities in other African countries, including Zimbabwe, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya and Tanzania.
Jiajin explained that his travels, which are reflected in his passport, were for legitimate business expansion purposes and by May 2023, he had relocated to Tanzania to establish a new business venture, South East Sunshine Pty Company Limited, in Dar es Salaam.
“I obtained a valid investor residence permit and operated a lawful commercial hardware company there, similar to my business in Botswana,” he said.
According to his affidavit Jiajin says his troubles began on January 22, 2025 when he landed at Dar es Salaam International Airport from China and was arrested by Tanzanian authorities based on an Interpol red notice issued by Botswana.
He says he was not told the full details of the alleged offences at the time. He was detained in Tanzania until August 2025, when he was extradited to Botswana. He did not contest the extradition, explaining that he wanted to return to Botswana to clear his name.
Further detailing that upon arrival, he was charged with 994 counts of obtaining by false pretences, allegedly for defrauding hundreds of Botswana citizens by convincing them to invest in a pyramid scheme known as Ecoplexus. The charge sheet claims that he unlawfully obtained money by misrepresentation, leading to the loss of funds by investors.
Jiajin, however, says that after reviewing hundreds of witness statements provided by the prosecution, there is no evidence directly linking him to the alleged scheme.
He argues that none of the witnesses claim to have given him money or interacted with him in relation to the Ecoplexus operation, instead, he says the statements describe the structure of the scheme, which involved local organisers, Facebook advertising, Orange Money numbers and bank accounts opened across Botswana to collect funds from investors.
The Chinese man claims that the only connection investigators have made between him and the scheme is through a Chinese acquaintance known as Mr Ling, who visited Botswana briefly in December 2022.
Jiajin points out that Ling told him he intended to start a money-lending business and needed assistance registering SIM cards and says he connected Ling with some of his workers, believing the business to be legitimate.
“I left Botswana two days later, on December 24, 2022, to travel to China, as shown by his passport. I had no further contact with Ling or involvement in any of his business activities,” Jiajin said.
He revealed in his court papers that he believes that because Ling has since disappeared, investigators are using him as a scapegoat.
Jiajin says he has already appeared in court five times since his return to Botswana on August 22, 2025, but the prosecution has yet to finalise its investigations.
He has not entered a plea because, according to him, the State has not provided all the necessary documentation and that the case has really not gone anywhere adding that his continued incarceration has “effectively destroyed” his life.
“My businesses in both Botswana and Tanzania have collapsed, and my wife and three children have been left without support. I have incurred significant legal costs both in Tanzania, where I engaged an advocate during extradition proceedings, and in Botswana, where I have retained attorneys based in Francistown and Gaborone,” Jiajin.
He says his incarceration prevents him from earning income or paying for legal representation.
Jiajin argues that his detention also prevents him from effectively preparing for his trial, which involves hundreds of documents and witnesses and that consultations with his lawyers are difficult and expensive to arrange from prison, especially since his legal team must travel long distances to see him.
“I am not a flight risk and that he has every intention of standing trial. I could have opposed extradition in Tanzania, but I chose to come and clear my name in Botswana,” he states.
He adds that he has deep ties to the country, where he has lived for over 14 years and where his brother and extended family still reside.
Jiajin criticises what he calls ‘laxity’ on the part of the prosecution, saying that despite his extradition to much publicity, the State has not been ready to proceed.
“After extraditing me from Tanzania to much fanfare, the State is failing to take the matter to trial. If I am kept in custody while the State delays, I stand to suffer irreparable harm. All time spent in custody cannot be recoverd,” he says.
He argues that the case is complex and likely to be prolonged, involving more than a thousand witnesses and keeping him in custody during what could be years of proceedings would amount to punishment before trial.
Jiajin maintains that releasing him on bail would not prejudice the State or undermine the criminal justice process.
“The interests of justice demand that I be released on bail pending trial. There is nothing to suggest that my release could jeopardise the proper functioning of the justice system,” he concludes.