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By IOL Reporter 
6h ago
Cape Town – Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary will spend the weekend behind bars after their bail request was postponed until Monday.
The couple have previously indicated that they intend to plead not guilty to fraud and money laundering charges involving R106 million. They are charged alongside Landiwe Sindani, 37.
While a weekend in jail may not have been part of Major 1’s plans, the couple were fortunate that the court reversed its initial decision to schedule the hearing for next Friday, October 30.
The Bushiris pleaded with the court to hold the hearing on Monday, even though the list has already dealt with other matters. They indicated that they would be willing to wait their turn while the court handled the other cases scheduled for that day.
An attempt by the couple’s legal representative to exclude the media was dismissed by Magistrate Thandi Theledi, who ruled that photographs of the defendants were allowed, but that the accusation could not be filmed or photographed. Prosecutors had argued that their lives could be in danger.
Theledi, however, ruled that audio recordings of the prosecution would be allowed.
The Hawks called the couple together Monday for a discussion about an investment in international property and investment company Rising Estate, Enlightened Christian Gathering church spokesman Ephraim Nyondo said in a statement.
“The Hawks informed the attorneys for our leaders, the Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and the prophetess Mary Bushiri, late Monday afternoon that they are requesting the couple to come to their office at 11 am accompanied by their attorneys to discuss a matter related to an investment belonging to a company called Rising Inmuebles. ”
Bushiri turned himself in to police on Tuesday, while his wife was arrested shortly after.
Despite an affidavit from the Department of Home Affairs, the status of the Enlighten Christian Gathering first couple’s residence in the country is still unclear.
The home listed as their address on court documents had been put up for sale and they no longer lived there, the court heard Wednesday.
The court heard earlier this week that Bushiri, whose earnings were disclosed at around R500,000 per month, was seen as a flight risk. The couple is originally from Malawi and has several churches outside of South Africa.
Bushiri also faces a rape charge for an unrelated matter.
MESS
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