South Africa issues arrest warrant for Shepherd Bushiri after fleeing to Malawi ahead of fraud trial

Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary Bushiri. (Courtesy/Facebook)

On Monday, November 16, 2020, the South African government issued an arrest warrant for Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) church leader Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary Bushiri, who flew to Malawai ahead of their bail hearing.

The couple who were under investigation for multiple counts of fraud and money laundering are said to have sneaked out of South Africa over the weekend. Many people suspected they might have traveled with the Malawian president, Lazarus Chakwera, in his private jet. However, Chakwera's office and the South African authorities in charge of the president's travel denied assisting Bushiri and his wife in escaping.