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By Sihle Mlambo 
3h ago
Johannesburg – The fugitive Bushiri couple were warned to appear before Pretoria Magistrates Court on Thursday or risk losing their R5.5m property at Midstreams Estate in Centurion.
The Bushiris have already lost the 400,000 rand they paid to secure their bail two weeks ago. The couple were released on bail of 200,000 rand each.
Enlightened Christian Encounter (ECG) church leader Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary face charges of theft, money laundering and fraud in connection with an alleged R100m investment scheme.
On Monday, the Pretoria Magistrates Court issued the Hawks an arrest warrant for the Bushiris, who fled the country over the weekend.
The controversial pastor accused of money laundering said on Saturday that he had fled to Malawi because he “feared for his safety.”
Bushiri also said he had returned to his home country to formally ask the Malawian government to intervene in his court battle in South Africa.
Hawks spokesman Col. Katlego Mogale said: “This morning the Pretoria Magistrates Court issued an arrest warrant for the two fugitives, Shepherd Bushiri and Mary Bushiri, who violated their conditions of bail when they failed to show up. at the police station to confirm that they are still in the country.
“The Bushiris bail is canceled, so the 200,000 rand each they had posted as bail is forfeited. They will also lose their residency if they do not appear in court on Thursday, November 19, 2020, ”said Mogale.
When the Bushiri were released on bail on November 4, the court imposed strict conditions for bail, including the couple’s report to the police station every Monday and Friday, and they were not allowed to sell any property. . They were ordered to turn over title to their home in Midstream Estates to the State. They lost their passports and were banned from traveling outside of South Africa.
On Saturday, Bushiri demanded that the South African government guarantee the couple their safety if they return to the country and once. He demanded that the couple’s bail not be revoked and that they be allowed access to their lawyers at all times. Bushiri asked the police and prosecutors involved in the investigation, arrest and prosecution of the couple to recuse themselves, as he had filed a complaint against them two years ago.
He wants these law enforcement officials to be prosecuted first before they have their day in court. Bushiri also demanded that independent investigators and prosecutors be appointed to pursue the case against him and his wife.
On Monday Pastor Mboro Motsoeneng said in a television interview that Bushiri tried to reach him by phone last week.
But Mboro missed the call because he was busy with other commitments.
“He tried to reach me on Tuesday or Wednesday during the day. I saw a missed call from him. I did not reply.
“I sent WhatsApp messages to say I was busy during the day, we can talk, and the phone was off, so I couldn’t see anything until I saw what I saw in the media,” Mboro said.
MESS
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