/ 9 December 2013

Krejcir, co-accused bail application postponed

Krejcir, Co Accused Bail Application Postponed

Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir and his three co-accused's bail application was postponed to Tuesday.

On Monday, magistrate Reginald Dama heard investigating officer Mashudu Freddy Ramuhala testify that Krejcir and his co-accused threatened prosecutor Louis Mashiane and a witness.

They had laid complaints with the police to this effect.

Krejcir, Desai Luphondo, and two members of the Hawks, Warrant Officers Samuel Modise Maropeng and George Jeff Nthoroane were arrested last month and face charges of kidnapping, assault, and attempted murder.

In June they allegedly kidnapped and assaulted a man whose brother, known only as Doctor, disappeared with a 25kg shipment of tik he had been recruited to help smuggle through OR Tambo International Airport.

The shipment was destined for Australia.

They allegedly kept the man at the Money Point business in Bedfordview, Johannesburg, for four days, and assaulted him.

Ramuhala told the court the case against the four was not investigated and was subsequently closed.

Money Point
It was reopened in October after being was referred to the national task team appointed by national police commissioner Riah Phiyega to investigate Krejcir and his alleged associates within the police.

Eddie Classen, for Krejcir, put it to Ramuhala that his client was not the owner of Money Point.

The business was owned by a company, the sole shareholder of which was Ronnie Vuma, who was killed in the bomb blast at Money Point last month, he said.

Classen argued that Krejcir's wife Katerina Krejcirova and their two sons did not travel to Mauritius via Nigeria in November.

The State's allegation that they left the country under mysterious circumstances was false, as their passports showed they did not travel to Nigeria, Classen said.

Classen is expected to continue cross-examining Ramuhala on Tuesday. – Sapa