Share

Krejcir case to stand down

Johannesburg - After a late start and a three-hour adjournment, the case of Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir and five others was postponed on Wednesday.

Magistrate Colin Lamont agreed to have the matter postponed until Monday next week in the High Court in Johannesburg, sitting in the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court.

This was to allow a witness, Captain Bongani Gininida, to find his official police diary.

Annelene van den Heever for Desai Luphondo and Krejcir believed the diary would have information which would prove Luphondo was assaulted.

The court was hearing a trial-within-a-trial which was launched following allegations that policemen who arrested Luphondo on 22 November 2013, had assaulted him and influenced him into a confession.

Gininda had taken down the confession.

He testified that Luphondo had denied being assaulted or being forced into making the statement.

Van den Heever objected to Luphondo's confession being entered in as evidence last week.

The trial had previously been delayed with issues concerning witness statements and cellphone and vehicle tracking documents being demanded by Van den Heever.

Earlier, Lamont expressed frustration at the delays.

Food held up

After the lengthy adjournment on Wednesday, one of the accused, Siboniso Miya, who remained in police custody, raised his hand and told the judge that he and the other accused had not eaten since Tuesday.

Lamont had previously barred the lawyers of the accused from giving them food for security reasons.

All food given to the accused had to go through security, but the food had been held up with the court security on Wednesday.

Van den Heever said Krejcir was shaking, was seeing stars and was about to faint.

Dressed in a light blue jacket, Krejcir sat forward in the dock, his head lowered.

Lamont said the accused should be fed and his ruling on the security of the food stood.

After proceedings, the group, some of their lawyers and security officials continued to discuss the food and security matters.

Disappeared

They group were later led down to the cells to receive food.

Krejcir, Luphondo, Warrant Officers Samuel "Saddam" Maropeng and George Nthoroane, Jan Lefu Mofokeng, and Siboniso Miya face charges of kidnapping, attempted murder and dealing in drugs.

They allegedly recruited a man known as Doctor Nkosi to help smuggle 25kg of tik (methamphetamine) to Australia.

He worked for a cargo company at OR Tambo International Airport, and allegedly disappeared with the shipment.

Krejcir and his co-accused allegedly then kidnapped and tortured his brother, Bheki Lukhele, in a bid to have him reveal his sibling's whereabouts.

Nkosi has also testified in the trial where he confessed to stealing the drugs.

We live in a world where facts and fiction get blurred
Who we choose to trust can have a profound impact on our lives. Join thousands of devoted South Africans who look to News24 to bring them news they can trust every day. As we celebrate 25 years, become a News24 subscriber as we strive to keep you informed, inspired and empowered.
Join News24 today
heading
description
username
Show Comments ()
Voting Booth
Do you think corruption-accused National Assembly Speaker Nosiviwe Mapisa-Nqakula will survive a motion of no confidence against her?
Please select an option Oops! Something went wrong, please try again later.
Results
No, her days are numbered
42% - 522 votes
Yes, the ANC caucus will protect her
58% - 734 votes
Vote
Rand - Dollar
18.92
+0.1%
Rand - Pound
23.87
+0.2%
Rand - Euro
20.39
+0.2%
Rand - Aus dollar
12.32
+0.1%
Rand - Yen
0.13
+0.1%
Platinum
908.05
0.0%
Palladium
1,014.94
0.0%
Gold
2,232.75
-0.0%
Silver
24.95
-0.1%
Brent Crude
87.00
+1.8%
Top 40
68,346
0.0%
All Share
74,536
0.0%
Resource 10
57,251
0.0%
Industrial 25
103,936
0.0%
Financial 15
16,502
0.0%
All JSE data delayed by at least 15 minutes Iress logo
Editorial feedback and complaints

Contact the public editor with feedback for our journalists, complaints, queries or suggestions about articles on News24.

LEARN MORE