Australian-listed casino operator Silver Heritage Group is in hot water in Nepal after its ex-local partner blew the whistle on alleged illegal labor practices inside the Tiger Palace Bhairahawa resort.

The Kathmandu Post reported that Silver Heritage’s former Nepali partner, Rajendra Bajgain, accused the casino operator of hiring 22 foreign nationals in Tiger Palace without securing the necessary working permits from the government.

Under Nepal’s labor code, foreigners who want to work in the country are issued with tourist visas that are valid for 150 days. Within the period, foreigners may be able to apply for a working visa.

Bajgain also claimed that the salaries of these foreign staffers are deposited in Hong Kong-based accounts instead of going through Nepal’s financial institutions. The ex-Silver Heritage partner noted that 17 out of the 22 illegal foreign workers had already left the country after his exposé.