PRETORIA – Lawyers representing the self-proclaimed prophet, Shepherd Bushiri, and his wife, Mary, on Monday argued that the couple had not absconded in their other criminal trial - where they are facing charges of fraud and money laundering - questioning why they would evade now.

The pair and three others were in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court on Monday applying for bail. They are facing charges of money laundering and fraud amounting to R102 million.

The State argued that the Bushiris are flight risks, but their lawyer Advocate Anneline van Den Heever said this could not be proven.

“Having faced increasingly more charges in the other matter, they didn’t endeavour to evade that trial. They stood for trial. They adhered to each and every bail condition that the court imposed,” she said.