/ 25 March 2011

Four to appear for Gemballa murder

Four men are to appear in the Johannesburg Magistrate’s court on Friday in connection with the murder of fugitive Radovan Krejcir’s associate, Uwe Gemballa, the Star reported.

“A source said the four men would be making their first appearance in court today on charges related to the German supercar conversion specialist’s death,” the newspaper said.

The newspaper said the men’s lawyers were informed on Thursday that their clients would be appearing in court in relation to the murder, but they had yet to see the charge sheet.

The Star said two of the men, Garland Holworthy and Kagiso Joseph, were already in prison on unrelated charges.

“I was just informed today [Thursday] that they would be appearing. But we have known of these allegations for some time,” advocate Marius Bouwer, Holworthy’s legal representative, was quoted as saying.

Speaking to the South African Press Association, Hawks spokesperson, McIntosh Polela, refused to comment saying: “We don’t know who gave the Star this information … I suggest you drop this”.

Czech fugitive Krejcir handed himself over to the Hawks in Johannesburg during the early hours of Friday morning.

A raid on Krejcir’s home on Tuesday night by the Hawks revealed a hit list with four names on it.

One of the people on the list was state prosecutor Riegel du Toit, who was involved in the investigation into Gemballa’s murder.

Gemballa was linked to former Teazers boss Lolly Jackson, who was killed last year. The German businessman disappeared after arriving at OR Tambo airport in February last year. His body was found in October.

Polela said the issue of Krejcir’s court appearance would come about as the day progressed. He would be charged with fraud.

His fraud charges relate to a R4,5-million claim he allegedly made to an insurance company, after allegedly managing to obtain medical papers saying he had cancer.

Polela said Krejcir (42) was also being questioned on the death of underworld boss Cyril Beeka, who was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Cape Town earlier this week. – Sapa