Enlightened Christian Gathering Church and self-proclaimed prophet, Shepherd Bushiri, made headlines this weekend following his statement that he and his wife Mary had fled to Malawi, contravening their bail conditions. He further said they will only return to South Africa if government ensures their safety and the investigating officers in their case recuse themselves.
The couple was arrested in October on charges of fraud, money laundering and theft worth more than R102 million.
Despite the fact that the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court initially regarded the Bushiris as a flight risk, they were granted R200 000 bail each on condition that they hand in their passports and report to the nearest police station every Monday and Friday.
The South African government said on Sunday it had initiated the process to secure the extradition of the Bushiris in terms of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Protocol on Extradition and other legal instruments, which Malawi is a signatory.
Below are facts and important dates related to the Bushiri case:
16 April 2018
Bushiri labels claims of him transporting an estimated R15 million to Malawi on a private jet as false.
This followed a studio interview conducted by SABC News anchor Palesa Chubisi on 4 April 2020, with Pastor Daniel Phaladi; who wrote an article entitled “Do you want miracle money?” During the discussion, Chubisi made reference to the confirmed investigation by the Hawks into Bushiri for allegedly transporting the money to Malawi.
Bushiri said he was not even aware that he was under investigation by the Hawks.
“I have never been approached by any law enforcement to say that I am doing anything illegal; I have never been questioned or served any warrant to say I am doing illegal activities. Since I was born or since I came to South Africa, I have never had any issues with the police.”
1 February 2019
Bushiri and his wife are arrested at a hotel in Rustenburg, in the North West, by the Hawks for fraud, money laundering and contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA), committed from 2015, in relation to Exchange Control Regulations related to foreign currency.
The Hawks say the arrest follows an investigation that was launched in 2018. It is alleged that he left on Malawi President Lazarus Chakwera’s private jet. The president was on a working visit to South Africa.
However, State House and the South African government have dismissed those claims.
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Source: sabcnews
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