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Nov. 2, 2020

STAFF REPORTER

2 min read

Bushiris, co-accused back in court for bail application

Bushiris, co-accused back in court for bail application

The Bushiris at court

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JOHANNESBURG – The bail application of self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri, his wife Mary and three other co-accused is expected to resume in court on Monday where the State is expected to present its closing arguments.

The five spent another weekend at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre after the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court postponed the hearing on Friday.

They are facing charges of money laundering, theft and contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act involving just over R100 million.

Friday’s proceedings began with the State explaining to the court why the Bushiris and their co-accused should not be granted bail. The State prosecutor read an affidavit from the investigating officer.

"There is the likelihood that the release of the accused will disturb the public order or undermine the peace and security."Thereafter, lawyers for the accused began their arguments.

Lawyers for accused number two said that there was no way that their client could skip the country since she was a permanent resident of South Africa and had no family outside the country.

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But the State said that there was a possibility that she could evade trial because her husband tried to flee several times.

Advocate Anneline van den Heever, for the Bushiris and applicant number six, also presented her case, saying that her clients could not be kept in custody in anticipation of punishment.

"If there were in fact intimidation of witnesses, undue influence, corruption at police stations, why has the accused not been arrested for that?" EWN

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