SA witnesses required to appear in Malawi

The Lilongwe Magistrate's Court has ruled that South African witnesses in the Bushiri extradition case will have to appear in the Malawi lower court. Magistrate Patrick Chirwa stated that there was no legal basis on which the court could direct for a video conference hearing. This after the state applied for the SA witnesses in the extradition case of self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary, to appear via video conferencing. A report on the News24 site notes that it cited Covid-19 as one of the reasons for this request. Malawi Director of Public Prosecutions Steve Kayuni said the court order would be respected. ‘The arrangements have to be made. Discussions have to be had to ensure that the order of the court is duly accordingly taken,’ he said. The state requested six weeks to arrange for the appearance of the witnesses. Bushiri's lawyer, Wapona Kita, told the media they were happy the court dismissed the state's application. Legalbrief reports that the Bushiris fled SA in November last year, just days after being granted bail in relation to another criminal case against them. The cleric, his wife and three other co-accused face multiple charges of fraud, theft and money laundering in relation to an investment scam that allegedly defrauded investors to the tune of R102m. The couple was released on bail of R200 000 each with strict conditions attached, but they fled to Malawi with Bushiri claiming he left because of safety and security issues.