/ 2 December 2013

Police tighten security at Krejcir court hearing

Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir.
Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir.

Security was tight at the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court on Monday, where Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir and his co-accused were appearing.

The South African Police Service, Ekurhuleni Metro Police and private security guards searched every car going into the court grounds.

Only accredited people were allowed into the courtroom where Krejcir was to appear.

Journalists were told to leave their cellphones, laptops and cameras outside the room.

Heavily armed members of the police Tactical Respond Team stood guard at the entrance to the courtroom allowing only accredited people in.

Other people at the court wondered who was appearing and complained that they were being delayed.

One man said: "Ke [Jacob] Zuma a tlang court? Re tla ema. [Is Jacob Zuma appearing in court? We will wait]."

Bail application
Radovan Krejcir, Desai Lupondo, and two members of specialist police unit the Hawks – Samuel Modise Maropeng and George Jeff Nthoroane – are due to appear for a bail application.

Krejcir, arrested on November 22, and Lupondo appeared in the same court last Monday, where proceedings were held in camera for security reasons and postponed for further investigation.

Nthoroane (46) and Maropeng (41) appeared briefly in the same court on Wednesday after being arrested on Tuesday.

While details of the charges the men face have not been made public yet, it has been reported they were expected to face charges of kidnapping and assault, or alternatively attempted murder.

The charges are believed to be related to an incident in June. – Sapa