Lilongwe – A Malawi court ruled on Wednesday that a fugitive preacher wanted by South Africa for alleged rape, fraud and forgery may be extradited to face the charges.
The South African government had asked Malawi to return Shepherd Bushiri and his wife after they fled the country in 2020 while on bail for alleged fraud and money laundering in a multi-million-dollar case.
A magistrate’s court acknowledged that four of 10 charges against Bushiri require him to stand trial in South Africa, the Malawi justice ministry said in a statement.
“But we have been granted a stay order and we will appeal the ruling at the High Court,” defence lawyer Wapona Kita told reporters.
Bushiri and his wife are facing theft, fraud and money-laundering charges involving more than 100 million rand ($5.5 million) in South Africa, where the couple had lived for several years. Bushiri also faces three rape charges.
The self-proclaimed prophet is believed to have made his wealth through donations from followers of his church in Pretoria and had huge investments in the mining, telecommunications and luxury sectors.
The South African government welcomed the Malawi court’s decision and said it would oppose any appeal.
“Today’s ruling is a significant milestone in international legal cooperation, demonstrating the strength of both countries’ judicial frameworks and diplomatic engagements,” the justice ministry said.
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Source: AFP
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