Bushiris: Malawi Rejects Another App,lication, Legal Team Want SA Witnesses
- Shepherd and Mary Bushiri's legal team had yet another application denied by a court in Malawi
- The pair's legal team asked for the case to be heard as civil and not criminal, which was subsequently denied
- The legal team also requested witnesses from South Africa to be summoned to Malawi, which was also denied
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Self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary find yet another application denied by a court in Malawi while facing multiple charges, including fraud and money laundering.
The court has ruled that the case will continue being treated as a criminal case despite the Bushiris' lawyers application for extradition proceedings to be heard as civil and not criminal proceedings. Following this, the defence stated that the extradition request is incomplete as the South African government has not provided documentary evidence.
The couple's legal team also argued that witnesses from South Africa should be summoned to Malawi. The application for the witnesses was denied as the court stated the matter was not a trial but rather an extradition hearing.
Source: Facebook
According to News24, the State brought to the court's attention that the matter was not a trial but in fact an extradition hearing, which resulted in the decision to deny the Bushiris' legal team's application for witnesses from South Africa to be summoned.
eNCA reported that the defence said the hearing is incomplete as they await documentary evidence from the SA government.
Previously, Briefly.co.za reported that the couple's legal team's application to have the magistrate recuse himself was denied. Magistrate Patrick Chirwa stated that there was insufficient evidence.
The couple's attorney previously argued that the magistrate in the extradition hearing was biased due to the fact that he reportedly signed the court order to have the Bushiris arrested. Their attorneys added that they did not know that the magistrate would be changed.
Couples' extradition hearing was postponed. Reports say that the self-proclaimed prophet's lawyer cited 'evident bias'. According to the Bushiris' lawyers, the magistrate had changed.
Their lawyers reportedly have information that the new magistrate is the same person who issued the warrant of arrest for the Bushiris. The warrant of arrest is reportedly being challenged in the High Court in Malawi. The couple's lawyers believe the magistrate should not handle their clients' case.
The Bushiris' eight-year-old daughter was recently granted permission by Malawian authorities to leave the country in order to receive medical treatment in Kenya. The warrant comes very shortly after the Malawian authorities denied their daughter's trip to Kenya.
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Source: Briefly News
