Prophet Shepherd Bushiri’s extradition hearing set for March

The formal extradition hearing for Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary, is set to start on 8 March.

The Malawi Ministry of Justice said on Wednesday, the Lilongwe Magistrates Court ordered that the formal hearing start on that date.

Ministry spokesman Pirirari Masanjala said the court issued a warrant of arrest for the two fugitives, which stated they should be summoned to court in March.

He said Malawi will on 8 February file an application for their extradition to Mzansi.

“Their defence counsel will be given an opportunity on 16 February to file a response before the matter is finally heard.”

The wanted couple made a brief appearance at the Lilongwe Magistrates Court on Wednesday, 6 January.

Malawi’s director of public prosecutions, Steven Kayuni, told the court the extradition request from South Africa was formally served and included charges of theft, fraud, forgery and failing to comply with bail conditions.
Kayuni said three additional counts of rape were also added to the charges against the embattled pastor.

The Bushiris fled Mzansi in November, even though they were on bail for fraud and money-laundering.