By Zuko Komisa
Witnesses in the extradition case against self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary who live in South Africa won’t be required to fly to Malawi to testify.
Madalitso Chimwanza, the Chief Resident Magistrate in Lilongwe, decided the witnesses could testify while in South Africa in front of a South African court on Monday.
This is in relation to more than R100m, Pastor Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary are accused of engaging in fraud, theft, and money laundering.
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The state, represented by the director of public prosecutions Steven Kayuni, contended that South Africa has competent courts that may record testimony for use in Malawi courts.
However, Bushiri and his wife Mary had argued that the witnesses had to be physically present in court in Malawi to testify.
The church leaders of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) were detained in South Africa, but after being released on bail, they fled to Malawi, alleging that their host nation was unsafe.
While on bail, the pair left South Africa in 2020.
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