UPDATE 1 – Bushiri hands himself over to Malawi cops, intends to clear his name in South Africa

Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary, have handed themselves over to Malawian police.

PRETORIA, November 18 (ANA) – Self-proclaimed prophet and leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering church Shepherd Bushiri has handed himself over to Malawian police, while his spokesperson has asserted that the widespread media reports alleging that he was arrested at home are untrue.

“He handed himself over to police in the morning, as per his promises last week that he is not seeking refuge in Malawi but rather justice. Reports that he was arrested at his home last night or this morning are false. He handed himself together with mum (Mary Bushiri) in the morning,” said his spokesperson Maynard Manyowa on Wednesday.

Speaking to African News Agency, Manyowa said the Bushiris and their legal teams were still liaising with police in Malawi.

“They are presently liaising with the police. As South Africa formally requested that he be sent back, he will have to appear in court. It’s just how the process will work. He fully intends to return to South Africa.”

The North Gauteng High Court, situated in Pretoria, has issued second warrants for the arrest of the Bushiris.

Hawks spokesperson Colonel Katlego Mogale on Wednesday said the second warrants of arrest pertained to the fraud and money-laundering case on which the couple were released on R100,000 (US$6,500) bail each by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court.

The couple have a trial scheduled for May 31 to June 18 next year on charges of fraud and money laundering amounting to more than R15 million. This follows their arrest on February 1 last year by the Hawks.

The leader of the ECG church and his wife were at the time released on R100,000 bail each by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court. Their case was transferred to the high court.

The couple are also accused of contravening South Africa’s exchange control regulations by paying about R19 million (more than US$1.2 million) for a 1984 Gulfstream jet in cash.

The Hawks’ case against the pair concerns alleged offences of fraud‚ money laundering and contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (POCA).

“The high court issued the warrants yesterday, Tuesday, 17 November 2020. Mr and Ms Bushiri face charges of fraud and money laundering,” said Mogale.

“At the time of their disappearance, Mr and Ms Bushiri had posted bail of R100,000 each and were required to regularly present themselves to authorities as part of complying with their bail conditions. They were due to report in court in January 2021.”

During the court proceedings on Tuesday, the matter was postponed to December 7 for the formal withdrawal of bail and forfeiture of the bail deposit.

South Africa has initiated legal proceedings to secure the extradition of the Bushiris, after the charismatic preacher announced that he had left South Africa despite the bail conditions in different cases barring him from travelling.

In a statement and later a televised address beamed by privately owned television station Zodiak Broadcasting, Bushiri made five demands as a condition for him to return to South Africa for trial.

“I arrived in Malawi on Wednesday, and my president (Lazarus Chakwera) left for South Africa the following day (Thursday). I have not met my government. I have not spoken to any government official. I will meet my government on Monday.”

Bushiri said he was not running away from his trial but that he wanted to involve his native government in his concerns surrounding his criminal cases in South Africa.

“I am not running away (from trial). That is why I am here announcing that I am in Malawi. If you are running, you do not disclose where you are… I am also going to subject myself to Malawian police, I am going to present myself to them…”

The Enlightened Christian Gathering church leader and his wife are also facing charges of theft, money laundering and fraud in connection with an alleged R100-million (US$6.5-million) investment scheme. For that case, they were each released on R200,000 bail at the Pretoria Central Magistrate’s Court on November 4, following their arrest in October.

– African News Agency (ANA); Editing by Yaron Blecher