Fugitive preacher Shepherd Bushiri on Wednesday signalled that he would not return to South Africa because he did not believe he would receive a fair trial.

In a statement issued from his native Malawi, Bushiri accused South African Home Affairs Minister Aaron Motsoaledi of prejudging the twin legal processes he faced in South Africa.

“In this regard, it would never be an understatement to conclude that of the fears of the injustices that I am fearing, the reason I came to Malawi, has just been confirmed by Honourable Motsoaledi, [member of Parliament] MP,” he said in his statement.

He implied that Motsoaledi had no right to tell fellow MPs on Tuesday that his and his wife Mary’s South African residence permits were fraudulent.

The minister told Parliament’s portfolio committee on home affairs his department felt for that reason, coupled with the porosity of South Africa’s borders, that the couple were a flight risk and should not have been granted bail while they face trial for fraud and money laundering.

The Bushiris fled South Africa last week, causing diplomatic turbulence with Malawi as law enforcement authorities feared he may have been trying to abscond in the plane of President Lazarus Chakwera.

South Africa’s Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (known as the Hawks) delayed Chakwera’s departure, after talks in Pretoria with President Cyril Ramaphosa, to search the presidential plane and scrutinise the identity of all passengers, according to Motsoaledi.

Hours after the minister revealed this, Bushiri reportedly handed himself over to the police in Lilongwe, in Malawi.

Bushiri in his statement denied that he was asking the political powers in Malawi to shield him.

“I need to underline that I came to Malawi not to seek political intervention. I came to Malawi to seek justice before the Constitution of the Republic of Malawi,” he said.

“I have strong belief in the Constitution of Malawi because it protects its every citizen including my wife and I.

He added: “Because of that, I will be presenting myself before law enforcement agencies this morning to legally explain and defend the decisions that I made to come to Malawi.”

He maintained that he was innocent.

“As of now, there is no court in the world that has proven me guilty. I may be subjected by media and public trial but I maintain my innocence until proven guilty.

“It is unfortunate, therefore, to have the Minister of Home Affairs in South Africa to intentionally and unfairly mislead the people of South Africa and the whole world in this regard.

“I cannot have a fair trial in South Africa!”

He suggested that the couple used passports that they did not hand in to authorities because they were full to return to Malawi.