The pastor of a Christian church in South Africa, who accumulates a large sum of money by claiming to save the dead and to heal the sick, ran away after a fraud was revealed.



Shepard Bushri, 37, who was charged with fraud and money laundering while pretending to be a prophet in South Africa, escaped last weekend to his hometown Malawi with his wife Mary, according to BBC broadcasts on the 15th (local time).



On the 4th of this month, Bushri was granted bail on the condition of paying 200,000 Rand (about 14 million won) and was forced to stay only in South Africa.



Running a church in South Africa, he argued that he could raise the dead as a prophet, heal AIDS, restore sight for the blind, bring wealth to the poor, and walk in the air.



Fortune is estimated to be in the millions of dollars.



Earlier, South African prosecutors said the case in connection with the Bushri couple's fraud and money laundering charges amounted to Rand 120 million (about 7.3 billion won).



There are so many believers who follow the Bushiri to fill the big stadium.



Bushri explained to the believers on social media that they "have made a strategic retreat to conserve their lives," and accused South African authorities of failing to protect them when attempts were made to kill him.



Bushri's escape is also a secret to diplomacy.



South African media are raising suspicions that Bushri traveled to Malawi on the plane of Malawi President Lazarus Chaquera, who visited South Africa last week.



Not only Malawi, but South African authorities have denied the allegations.



The South African government announced today that it has begun discussions with the Malawi government on the repatriation of the Bushuri couple under the SADC's Extradition Treaty.



However, Malawi Foreign Minister Eisenhower Mkaka distanced himself from the possibility of repatriation, telling the BBC that "the government's duty to protect all Malawis is a duty."



"President Chaquera strongly supports the rule of law, and all diplomatic channels will be open," Mkaka said.



In addition, Malawi Minister of Homeland Security Richard Chimwendo Vanda told dpa news agency that "if the official request from South Africa is requested, the Bushri couple can be extradited."



(Photo = Bushiri Facebook Capture, Yonhap News)