Shepherd Bushiri and wife’s case postponed

Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary appeared in the North Gauteng High Court in Pretoria today, Monday 27, July on charges including money laundering, fraud and contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act.

The North Gauteng regional spokesperson for the director of public prosecutions, Lumka Mahanjana, said the matter has been postponed till October.

“Prophet Bushiri and his wife Mary Bushiri appeared in the Pretoria High Court earlier today (on Monday) for a trial after he was arrested on 1 February 2019 by the Hawks for charges of fraud and money laundering involving more than R15 million,” said Mahanjana.

“The case today (Monday) was postponed to 16 October 2020 for trial conference at the Pretoria High Court.”

The leader of the popular Enlightened Christian Gathering church and his wife were released by the Pretoria Specialised Commercial Crimes Court in February last year on R100 000 bail each, after spending some days in prison. The cases against the couple were later transferred to the high court for trial.

The couple is also accused of going against South Africa’s exchange control regulations for paying about R19 million for a private jet.

Bushiri’s spokesman, Ephraim Nyondo ahead of the couple’s court appearance urged church members attending proceedings to adhere to Covid-19 regulations.