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The leader of the Church of the Enlightened Christian Encounter (ECG) and his wife, Mary, confirmed on Facebook on Saturday that they had fled to Malawi.
FILE: Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary. Image: facebook.com/shepherdbushiriministries
JOHANNESBURG – Self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri insists he is not fleeing prosecution in South Africa.
The leader of the Church of the Enlightened Christian Encounter (ECG) and his wife, Mary, confirmed on Facebook on Saturday that they had fled to Malawi. The Hawks also confirmed that the couple did not show up at the nearest police station on Friday as required by their bail conditions.
The Bushiris are out on bail and face charges that include fraud, theft and money laundering worth more than R100 million. They were released on bail of 200,000 rand more than a week after their arrest in October.
• READ ALSO: Court hears that Bushiri has a diplomatic passport but is not a diplomat
They said they left South Africa for their home country after fearing for their safety.
In the Facebook post, the couple called on the South African government to exclude everyone involved in their trial from investigators to prosecutors.
They also pleaded with authorities not to revoke their bail, despite defying their conditions by leaving the country.
“I would like to inform the general public that my wife, Mary, and I are temporarily in our home country, Malawi, due to security concerns since 2015. These matters have worsened after we obtained our two bonds.
“There have been clear and obvious attempts to have me, my wife and family killed, and despite our various attempts to inform the authorities, there has never been any protection from the state,” the Bushiri said.
They added: “Our arrival in Malawi, therefore, is a tactical withdrawal by the Republic of South Africa for the sole purpose of preserving our lives.
“These attempts have intensified with the recent series of arrests and detentions that we feel the only way to clear our names before the law is to make sure our lives are preserved.”
ONLY ON Self-proclaimed prophet #PastorBushiri and his wife Mary have left South AfricaSZ pic.twitter.com/qqrcyGPlEq
EWN Reporter (@EWN Reporter) November 14, 2020
Bushiri insisted they were only willing to return to South Africa and their demands are met. He called on the Malawian government to liaise with the South African government to ensure their demands are met.
The couple also maintained that they were innocent and claimed that they were not receiving a fair trial in South Africa.
“My wife and I firmly believe in our innocence, but this cannot be proven if our lives are not preserved. We have to be alive to bear witness to our innocence. “
HAWKS PROBE DOES NOT COMPLY WITH COURT ORDER
Meanwhile, the Hawks said news that the Bushiris had fled the country violated their bail conditions set out in Pretoria Magistrates Court.
• READ ALSO: Hawks investigation as Bushiris failed to show up at police station and claimed to have fled SA
“At this stage, we can confirm that he did not show up at the police station as requested and agreed to, which is also an act of violation of the court order,” Hawks spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Katlego Mogale said in a release.
She added: “Investigators along with prosecutors have been working tirelessly since it came to light that he failed to show up at the police station. Current postings that were allegedly issued by Bushiri, who is said to be in Malawi, are being authenticated and verified.
“The breach of the court order is being investigated.”
WATCH: ‘We support our mom and dad’: Bushiri supporters protest their release
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