During the bail application by self-proclaimed prophet Shepherd Bushiri and his wife Mary on Friday, the state argued the couple are a flight risk.
Meanwhile, outside the Pretoria magistrate's court, Bushiri's supporters and members of his Enlightened Christian Gathering church gathered on Francis Baard Street.
The group of praying people knelt on the tar road while they cried and prayed for their “papa”.
The couple and three others are charged with fraud and money laundering related to an investment scheme valued at R102m. The husband and wife and a third co-accused, one of their congregants, are applying for bail.
Mary was arrested by the Hawks on October 20 at her home, while Bushiri handed himself over to the authorities later that day. They were remanded in custody at the Kgosi Mampuru Prison.
During the morning's proceedings inside court, the state questioned the couple's finances, saying they had personal and business bank accounts which required scrutiny.
It was also heard that Bushiri does not have any vehicles under his own name. His fleet of luxury vehicles is listed as being purchased under the name of the “prophetic channel”.
The state said there was evidence the “prophetic channel” cannot afford these vehicles.
Two vehicles bought, a Bentley and a Maserati, were allegedly taken illegally to Malawi, which is Bushiri's country of origin, said the state.
Earlier this month, Bushiri and his wife made formal bail applications in the form of affidavits.
In his affidavit, Bushiri said he intended to plead not guilty. He said his passports had been handed over to the investigating officer and that he had no previous convictions nor any intention of evading trial or fleeing the country.
“I deny that any offence was ever committed by me. I have no reasons to run away. I have no reason to evade my trial as I need to vindicate myself,” he said in his affidavit.
Magistrate Thandi Thelede is hearing arguments from the defence lawyers.
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