The leaders of the Enlightened Christian Gathering Church have been charged with fraud, money laundering and Contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act worth R102 million.
Members of the Enlightened Christian Gathering (ECG) came out in support of self-proclaimed prophet, Shepherd Bushiri, and his wife Mary Bushiri, who appeared at the Pretoria Magistrates Court on 21 October 2020 on fraud and money laundering charges. Picture: Xanderleigh Dookey/EWN
JOHANNESBURG – The media have been granted permission to record the proceedings in the bail application of self-proclaimed prophet Sheperd Bushiri, his wife Mary and their co-accused.
– READ: ECG CHURCH members rally outside court for Bushiri & wife’s bail hearing
The leaders of the Enlightened Christian Gathering Church have been charged with fraud, money laundering and Contravention of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act worth R102 million.
They were arrested earlier this week.
WATCH: ‘We stand by our mama and papa’ – Bushiri’s supporters protest for his release
Bushiri’s legal team argued that the filming of the proceedings would prejudice them but the legal team for the media told the court that the family was already known, and it did not make sense that cameras were not allowed.
In her ruling, the magistrate said that the argument by the defence had no basis since Bushiri’s congregants protesting outside were holding banners with his face and this wasn’t the first time that he was shown on TV.
As a result, cameras will be permitted during this bail application but the media have been barred from filming the prosecution team.
Meanwhile, Bushiri’s lawyers have already begun their bail application.
