Cabinet ‘satisfied’ with govt’s handling of Bushiri escape
Justice Minister Ronald Lamola says government has full confidence that the Malawian judiciary will hand over fugitive couple Shepherd and Mary Bushiri.
The self-proclaimed prophet and his wife fled from South Africa last week, despite the strict bail conditions set out for them after they were released by a Pretoria court earlier this month.
The pair and three others face charges of fraud, corruption and money laundering relating to a R102 million investment scheme.
The Bushiris handed themselves over to police in Malawi this week after a warrant of arrest was issued.
Lamola says Malawian officials are cooperating with South African law enforcement to ensure the pair return to the country to face trial.
“From what we have seen thus far is that Malawi has got a robust judicial system which is independent, which has also withstood scrutiny from various quarters and at this stage we have got no doubt that processes in Malawi will be run in a fair and judicial manner,” Lamola said during a post-Cabinet briefing on Thursday.
“We are convinced that the Bushiris will come back to South Africa to stand trial and they are guaranteed a fair trial.”
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The Pretoria Magistrate's Court handed down the ruling on Thursday. The Bushiri couple was supposed to appear in court this morning on charges of fraud and money laundering, but skipped the country to Malawi last week. This was in defiance of the strict bail conditions imposed on the self-proclaimed prophet and his wife.
But Lamola would still not be drawn into revealing how the couple escaped.
“We do not want to speculate. The investigation is still ongoing, but we understand the urgency of the matter.
“As government we cannot speculate, and we would want to give a report when there is an investigation that points with certainty how and when did they leave the country and in due course, we will be able to tell this country.”
He added: “Cabinet was satisfied with the manner in which the Justice, Crime Prevention and Safety Cluster has handled the matter and the cluster will update the public on the developments regarding this matter.”
Listen to Lamola below:
