Rédaction Africa Links 24 with Times News
Published on 2024-03-14 06:37:38
The Lilongwe Magistrate Court recently adjourned the hearing of the highly publicized extradition case involving Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) Church leader Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary. The case, which entered the cross-examination stage on Monday, saw the defense team questioning State witness Siyabonga Mnzinyathi, who is also the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) in South Africa.
Following the adjournment, defense lawyer Wapona Kita explained that they needed more time to scrutinize the evidence presented by the State. They were supposed to complete the cross-examination on the day of the adjournment, but deemed it necessary to ask for additional time to thoroughly examine the evidence. The case was adjourned to May 16 to accommodate both sides’ availability.
On the other hand, the State’s lawyer, Dzikondianthu Malunda, stated that they were ready to continue the hearing but agreed to the adjournment requested by the defense. The defense needed time to examine the documents submitted by the State to conclude the cross-examination adequately. Both sides agreed to adjourn the case to a later date to allow the defense to complete their cross-examination and give the State a chance to conduct its re-examination.
During the course of the hearing, the defense team raised questions about the extraditability of the offenses the Bushiris are accused of. They argued that only three out of the 13 offenses against the Bushiris are eligible for extradition. The lawyers also probed whether the offenses for which South Africa sought to extradite the Bushiris were covered in Malawi’s Extradition Act.
The defense specifically questioned Mnzinyathi about the 13 offenses and whether they fell under Section 5 of Malawi’s Extradition Act. According to Kita, only three of the offenses were extraditable under Malawi’s laws. They also pressed Mnzinyathi to provide information on whether the South African authorities had completed investigations related to the R106 million allegedly stolen by the Bushiris, to which the witness could not confirm.
The initial stages of cross-examination mainly focused on the procedural aspects of the arrests and extradition requests made by South Africa. The Bushiris, who were initially arrested in South Africa but later fled to Malawi while on bail, are wanted by Pretoria to face charges of theft, fraud, and rape.
Overall, the extradition case has sparked significant interest and legal debates surrounding the extradition process and the applicability of laws in both South Africa and Malawi. The adjournment allows both sides to prepare adequately for the continuation of the case and ensures a fair and thorough legal process for all parties involved.
Read the original article on The Times
