LILONGWE -- The High Court of Malawi has overturned the extradition of Prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife, Mary, ruling that the process was legally flawed, unfair, and endangered their lives.
Justice Mzonde Mvula found that the magistrate's March decision to send the couple to South Africa "fell short" of Malawi's legal standards and denied them the right to be heard. He said the case relied on hearsay evidence and improperly authenticated documents.
The court also criticised South African authorities for "bad faith" and delays, noting a five-year gap between the alleged offences and the charges.
Mvula ruled that the extradition violated due process and highlighted safety concerns after a reported bomb attack on the Bushiris' car, saying "the right to life is more paramount than availability to face trial."
The ruling overturns a March order by the Chief Resident Magistrate's Court in Lilongwe, which had approved their extradition to face charges of fraud, money laundering and rape in South Africa.
Bushiri, who fled South Africa in 2020 while on bail, has maintained that he is being targeted and that his life would be at risk if he returned.
Known for his flamboyant lifestyle and large following across southern Africa, Bushiri built a multimillion-dollar religious empire before facing charges of defrauding investors of about R102 million (£4.5m).
His escape from South Africa to his home country Malawi sparked diplomatic tensions between the two nations.