Pastor’s Escape Strains South Africa’s Relations With Malawi
- Bushiri, wife skipped bail, fled to evade criminal charges
- Malawi authorities say their president was improperly treated
Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary appear at Pretoria Magistrate's Court on Nov. 4.
Photographer: Frennie Shivambu/Gallo Images via Getty Images
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A self-styled Malawian prophet who claims to have raised people from the dead has sparked a diplomatic incident after fleeing criminal charges in South Africa.
Shepherd Bushiri and his wife were arrested on fraud and money laundering charges and appeared in court last month for alleged financial misdeeds amounting to 102 million rand ($6.6 million). They were granted bail of 200,000 rand each on Nov. 4 and handed in their passports so they couldn’t leave the country, but Bushiri issued a statement 10 days later saying the couple were in Malawi.