Court issued warrant of arrest for Bushiris, revokes bail
A warrant of arrest has been issued for self-proclaimed prophet Sheperd Bushiri and his wife Mary, government spokesperson Phumla Williams confirmed on Monday.
The Pretoria Magistrate’s Court has also revoked the bail it had earlier granted the fraud accused couple.
The Enlightened Christian Gatherings Church leader and his wife, who are on trial for alleged fraud and money laundering totalling R100 million, skipped bail and fled to their native Malawi last week.
Williams says government approached the court on Monday morning.
“We would like to confirm that this morning we did approach the court to request the issuing warrant of arrest and revoking of the bail conditions that were given to Bushiri. Yes, the court has granted us the warrant of arrest. Yes, the court has revoked the bail condition. The R400 000 that was paid as bail has been forfeited to the state coffers.
“For that, we can confirm that the process is moving to the next level of trying to get Bushiri to be returned to South Africa.”
She says they expect the Malawian government to comply with any extradition request.
“I guess we will deal with it when it happens and I think we refuse to take an approach that they will refuse. There is no reason that can suggest that they are going to refuse. They have committed to have a good working relationship with South Africa, and we have enjoyed good working relationship as the two countries.
“The newly elected president just came recently to South Africa to re-commit these good relations with the two countries, so at this point we have no reason to doubt that they will look at our request favourably.”
