Malawi court orders release of Prophet Bushiri
By James Mwala.
The Lilongwe Magistrate Court has ordered the unconditional release of Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary.
Bushiri and his wife had earlier this week surrendered themselves to police following reports that police worked on an order to net them.
But in making a ruling today, Magistrate Viva Nyimba said the arrest of the two was illegal because no arrest warrant was issued.
According to Nyimba, the two have to be released without any conditions because their arrest was illegal.
Earlier on, Bushiri’s lawyer, Wapona Kita prayed for their release because the defense ministry had not issued any warrant so as the justice ministry.
However, State advocate Steve Kayuni asked the court to remand the two for thirty days because they remain a risk.
He said if the two managed to bolt from South Africa, they would have done that with ease in Malawi.
The two are answering theft, money laundering and fraud charges in South.
They astonished people having announced they left South Africa yet their travel documents were seized as part of their bail.
They however said they fled because of security concerns in the rainbow nation.
Earlier today, police seized their R5.5 million property because the two had not availed themselves in court.