Prophet Shepherd Bushiri has won backing of the Lilongwe High Court after appealing the decision of the lower court to have witnesses of South African Police testify in person.
High Court Judge Bruno Kalemba ruled that the witnesses should give their testimony physically in Malawi and asked the state to make arrangements of their availability.
The Chief Resident Magistrate in Lilongwe is hearing an extradition application by Malawi after South Africa asked for extradition of Prophet Bushiri and his wife Mary who jumped bail in South Africa.
The lower court had said the witnesses could testify from South Africa virtually which saw the Bushiris appeal the the Higher Court.
Wapona Kita, lawyer for the Prophet confirmed the ruling.
The Enlightened Christian Gathering Church and self-proclaimed prophet, Bushiri, made headlines in November 2020 following his statement that he and his wife Mary had fled to Malawi, contravening their bail conditions. He further said they will only return to South Africa if government ensures their safety and the investigating officers in their case recuse themselves.
The couple was arrested on charges of fraud, money laundering and theft worth more than R102 million (K870 million). They were granted R200 000 bail each on condition that they hand in their passports and report to the nearest police station every Monday and Friday.
