Bushiri, wife remain in custody
South Africa-based leader of the Enlightened Christian Gathering Church (ECGC) Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife remain in custody after the couple’s arrest on Friday.
They were arrested for alleged fraud and laundering R15 million (about K825 million).
ECGC communications director Ephraim Nyondo confirmed in an interview yesterday the duo was still in custody in Pretoria under the Hawks- members of that country’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigations.
Hawks in South Africa is considered highly skilled in crime investigations.
It investigated former president Jacob Zuma and the Gupta brothers over alleged fraud and corrupt-related cases.
Nyondo said he and other church leaders visited detained Bushiri and described him to be “in cheer and great spirits and would appear in court tomorrow.”
The Hawks’ Brigadier Hangwani Mulaudzi said the arrest took place at a lavish hotel in Rustenburg, Sparkling Waters Hotel.
“The Hawks’ case against the pair concerns alleged offences of fraud, money laundering and contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act (Poca). The crimes were allegedly committed from 2015 in relation to Exchange Control Regulations related to foreign currency in an amount of $1 147 200 (about R15.3m),” reported the media in South Africa.
The ECGC statement issued on Friday disclosed that at about 7 am on Friday, armed members of the police stormed the Sparkling Waters Hotel in Rustenburg.
“We were later made aware that they were members of the Hawks. They took the prophet and our mother, Prophetess Mary Bushiri, in handcuffs to Pretoria,” the statement said.
“As you will remember, from last year, we have struggled with reports that our father [Bushiri] was guilty. He has been detained and is being questioned by the Hawks in Silverton, Pretoria.
“At some point, accurate reports pointed out the fact that certain people within the police had demanded bribes amounting to R10 million. This is a matter that is on record and well known,” reads the statement signed by Nyondo and external relations manager Maynard Manyowa.
The church encouraged its members to be steadfast in prayer.
