State seeks review on Bushiri’s unconditional release: Matter in Malawi High Court Dec 1
The State lawyers have filed to the High Court for a review of the decision by the Lilongwe Magistrate’s Court to unconditionally release prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary Bushiri wanted by South Africa on money laundering, theft and fraud charges after they jumped bail.
Bushiri was unconditionally released by principal resident magistrate Viva Nyimba in Lilongwe last week following his arrest by local police for crimes he allegedly committed in South Africa.
The couple had handed themselves over to Malawi police but the Magistrate court called their arrest unlawful because the international warrant of arrest issued by South Africa had not passed through the relevant government ministry.
Spokesperson for Ministry of Justice Pilirani Masanjala confirmed that High Court has set Tuesday December 1 2020 as the day ti hear the application for the State to have the Magistrate’s decision to release the couple reversed.
Bushiri’s lawyer Wapona Kita said they have received “partial documents” and they are waiting to get “full disclosurers on the matter so we can reply.”
A total of five warrants of arrest have been issued by South Africa for Bushiri and his wife Mary since they fled the country. Two of the warrants are related to fraud and theft charges, and the other three to three separate rape cases against the youthful prophet.
Bushiri, the multimillionaire leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church, commands a large following in a number of African countries – in South Africa alone, the church has more than one million followers.
Known for his lavish lifestyle and preference for slick suits, Bushiri is often described as one of the wealthiest religious leaders in Africa. His fortune is estimated at $150million and his possessions reportedly include private jet, luxury cars and various properties.
Born in humble circumstances in Malawi’s northern district of Rumphi and spending his childhood in the nearby city of Mzuzu, Bushiri claims he had a spiritual encounter with a supernatural power at the age of 10 that led him to devote his life in the service of God.
Bushiri founded ECG Church in 2010 in Malawi before moving its headquarters to the South African capital, Pretoria.
This man is a criminal… period
But what is the interest of the Malawians government in this case. Is it not surprising to see how the Government is rushing. Boma ladya banzi from RSA government. Kkkkkk
Exactly. I think it should have been the RSA government doing that. Chakwera what is your interest.
The prosecution must have its paperwork well prepared otherwise the South African government won’t be amused by the gesture. Malawi is a nation of legal scientists our lawyers have a name at global level please no crass work. Our courts won’t entertain haphazard work mark my word.
Bushiri is a cesspool of a scoundrel. Malawian and indeed any person should not suffer on behalf on this miscreant. He has tarnished the name of not only the president but the entire malawian. It is a known fact the Malawi is heavily dependent on SA economicwise.
No I am with sure on this one. I also believe the majority of upright thinking people are too.
Kulibe zopita kumeneko. South Africa itumize malawyer awo milandu tikambira ma court athuwa.
Malawi courts have no jurisdiction in South Africa. Your proposal is therefore not possible
Get them behind bars and ship them back to South Africa. I hope they will get a proper stiff sentence to deter other crooks in the name of prophets from doing the same.
Malawi should not allow Bushir to play them, they have to know that a criminal always run away. they shuold not risk their reputation because of him. he is a manupalator, too influecial. the Hawks they are not personal, the evidence is there ,we have victims who complain about him. the law must be applied for the sake of society not bushir. T his will yteach other people who use the name of God to steal for the people of God. Why he did not run in 2015 but today when his going to court. This is a guity concious and he want to use everybody that received his money.
I’m I the only one that thinks that if he was innocent he wouldn’t have fled?
Mwambi walero: Oyipa athawa yekha
everybody knows that if he was not guilty he will not run, this thing of protection and life treaten is just his defence for this current issues that have arise. he have planed that before that he will run and defend with safety and unjustice which are the most requirement of extradition, this criminal they do have information before they act. Bushir he do have some criminal mind based on his action and decision. he have received a very good advise which is going to shake the judicial systems and affect the political decision of both countries. we have to save the society from people like bushir.is time to show other european countries that in Africa we work together to ptu bad people away from the society, in Africa we don’t have a place to hide criminals.This man shows that he did received advise from a real expert on extradition based on his first speech when he arrived Malawi. he is now influencing from church leaders to political leaders.
Meanwhile, Bushiri’s sister pays R10K guilt fine for being in RSA illegally – the charges ” the accused is guilty of contravening a provision of section 41(1)…in that the accused, as a foreigner, unlawfully and intentionally, contrary to the provisions of section 9 of act 13 of 2002, entered the republic of South Africa on a date unknown to the state and at a place unknown to the state and her name is Esther Bushiri. And a while back, Pastor David from Malawi as well, who was a pastor in East London branch of ECG, was deported when some of the church congregants alerted the police to his immigration status. Something strange with Bushiri inner circle!