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FILE: Pastor Shepherd Bushiri (R), also known as the Bushiri Prophet of the Enlightened Christian Encounter (ECG), stands on stage as his wife, Mary Bushiri, speaks to worshipers during the Crossing of United Prayers at the FNB Stadium in Soweto on January 1, 2020. Image: AFP
JOHANNESBURG – The government confirmed on Monday that the bond granted to Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary, has been revoked after they violated its conditions and fled the country for their home in Malawi.
The fugitives face charges of fraud, theft and money laundering in South Africa.
An arrest warrant for the couple has also been obtained for the couple who, upon leaving the country, each lost their 200,000 rand bail.
They have to appear in Pretoria Magistrates Court on Thursday or else the authorities will confiscate their property as well.
Government spokeswoman Phumla Williams said: “At this time, the bond has been revoked and the funds have been lost. In the event that they do not appear on the required date of November 19, they will also lose their residence.
Williams said the arrest warrant, which the state was requesting, formed the basis of the documentation he would present to the Malawian government to extradite the Bushiris.
“We are still on the right track and that process is underway and once we have submitted the documentation, we will also share it with South Africans.”
The government has reiterated that the extradition process could be lengthy, but when the Bushiris return to South Africa, they could face additional charges for flight.
“As far as we are concerned, he is responsible in South Africa and once we can establish that he has violated our immigration, that will also be another charge because he has violated, but we are investigating him.”
The Hawks are also investigating how the couple managed to violate immigration laws after surrendering their travel documents as part of their bond conditions.
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