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The leader of the ECG church, Prophet Shepherd Bushiri, has instructed his lawyers to take Peter Sambo to court for publishing false and defamatory statements, which he has allegedly been posting online, particularly on Facebook.
The case will be heard at the High Court in London, United Kingdom, and if Sambo is found guilty, the consequences could be severe.
Bushiri says he has directed his UK-based legal team to also involve immigration authorities so that any application by Mr. Sambo to extend his stay in the UK is carefully reviewed in light of his conduct.
UK laws consider whether an individual poses a risk to others, and defamation is treated as a serious offense. Bushiri added that he is aware Mr. Sambo is currently in the UK on a 2.5-year spouse visa, and any current or future applications he makes will be closely scrutinized by the authorities.
He further stated that what they are seeking in the London High Court is straightforward: Mr. Sambo may be required to pay £50,000 in damages for harming his reputation. If he fails to pay, under the Attachment of Earnings Act 1971, the court could order that the money be deducted from his salary until the debt is cleared. If it reaches that point, Bushiri says he would gladly accept the compensation.
Bushiri emphasized that, as he has stated before, he will use all lawful means to defend himself. This is not a threat, but a commitment to pursuing justice through proper legal channels.
In addition, his lawyers are engaging with their counterparts on the matter.
Bushiri also expressed concern that some individuals leave Malawi and begin insulting those back home, assuming they cannot be held accountable. However, he says that will not be the case here, as he will ensure the law takes its course regardless of where the offender resides.
He added that although he is a servant of God, he is also a citizen with rights, and no one has the right to insult him, fabricate stories, or damage his reputation. Such actions may have happened in the past, but not anymore.
Furthermore, Bushiri has instructed his lawyers in Malawi to take action against Robert Chisambiro and others. He wants their bail conditions reviewed, as they have allegedly continued spreading false and defamatory information about him on Facebook through pages such as MANNA NEWS ONLINE, Ndizaulura, and Nkhanga Zawona, among others, even while their case is still before the court.
The matter is already before the courts, and proceedings are ongoing. The accused individuals will be required to provide evidence for all the claims they have made against him.
He warned that anyone engaging in similar actions using anonymous or fake accounts should be aware that investigations are underway, and they will face legal consequences according to the law.