National
Krejcir case back in court─── 15:14 Wed, 13 May 2015
Johannesburg - The drugs, attempted murder and kidnapping trial of Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir and five others continued in a heavily secured courtroom of the High Court in Johannesburg on Tuesday.
Krejcir, Desai Luphondo, Warrant Officers Samuel Modise Maropeng and George Jeff Nthoroane, Jan Lefu Mofokeng and Siboniso Miya are on trial on charges of dealing in drugs, attempted murder, and kidnapping. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Entrance to court 6e was by means of the production of an identity document, passport or drivers licence, passing through an airport security scanner, completing a register, and a body and bag search in a private room.
One of the two usual court room access doors was locked and inside the court were at least seven armed policemen wearing their bullet proof vests, with one standing at the ready with the additional defence of an R5 rifle.
Krejcir chewed gum as he and the accused listened to an exchange between defence advocate Annelene van den Heever, prosecutor Louis Mashiane and Judge Collin Lamont on an application to recall witness Peter Mashiane and to get his cellphone records for the period 23 to 29 June 2013, and for November 18, 2013.
This related to six cellphone numbers - two each from Cell C, Vodacom and MTN.
Krejcir occasionally jotted notes in a slim exam pad using a black Bic pen as Van den Heever and Lamont sparred, with Lamont occasionally chastising her for taking too long to make her submissions.
''Don't talk so much,'' said Lamont, the red sleeves of his gown pulled up to his elbows, to the lawyer who once had him livid for bringing a knife into court to cut birthday cake she had brought along to share.
He granted the application and instructed in his order that the records be delivered to counsel and to his registrar. His registrar would sift through the records to establish which are, in fact, Msimango's.
He said that during Msimango's testimony, which was interrupted when the cellphone records were not available, there was tacit agreement that he would return if necessary.
During the application, Krejcir and one of the accused either called out to Van den Heever or noisily flapped pieces of exam pad paper at her, to add information to her submissions.
On Monday George Louka, once a friend then a foe of Krejcir, died in hospital while still awaiting trial for the murder of their mutual associate Lolly Jackson.
His last court appearance had been at the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court, for an application for him to be allowed to go home to Cyprus to die after being diagnosed with stage 4 lunch cancer.
He had rasped out a claim that it was not him that had killed Jackson, but Krejcir in a fight about a money transfer.
It is not yet clear whether Krejcir will have to answer to that claim but on the sidelines of Wednesday's proceedings Van den Heever told News24 said that Krejcir completely denied that claim and desperately wanted to exonerate himself.
She said she had been asked to look into how he could do this, and the possibility of an inquest had been suggested.
''He has also volunteered to provide his DNA,'' said Van Heerden.
Wednesday's case involves the disappearance of 25kg of tik and the attempted murder of Bheki Lukhele the brother of another man known only as Doctor, who worked at a cargo company at OR Tambo International Airport.
According to previous testimony, Doctor disappeared with the tik that he was supposed to get to Australia. Msimango, a businessperson from Boksburg, said he was supposed to have found Doctor.
Krejcir allegedly ordered the kidnap of Lukhele who, according to testimony, was taken to Krejcir's business Money Point in Bedfordview and he was tied up and tortured with boiling water poured over his head, and a plastic bag placed over his head.
Later some of them drove far from the office and Lukhele was given a phone to call his brother and plead with him to tell them where the drugs where.
The State has closed its case, and the next step should be for the defence to present witnesses.
- News24.com
Entrance to court 6e was by means of the production of an identity document, passport or drivers licence, passing through an airport security scanner, completing a register, and a body and bag search in a private room.
One of the two usual court room access doors was locked and inside the court were at least seven armed policemen wearing their bullet proof vests, with one standing at the ready with the additional defence of an R5 rifle.
Krejcir chewed gum as he and the accused listened to an exchange between defence advocate Annelene van den Heever, prosecutor Louis Mashiane and Judge Collin Lamont on an application to recall witness Peter Mashiane and to get his cellphone records for the period 23 to 29 June 2013, and for November 18, 2013.
This related to six cellphone numbers - two each from Cell C, Vodacom and MTN.
Krejcir occasionally jotted notes in a slim exam pad using a black Bic pen as Van den Heever and Lamont sparred, with Lamont occasionally chastising her for taking too long to make her submissions.
''Don't talk so much,'' said Lamont, the red sleeves of his gown pulled up to his elbows, to the lawyer who once had him livid for bringing a knife into court to cut birthday cake she had brought along to share.
He granted the application and instructed in his order that the records be delivered to counsel and to his registrar. His registrar would sift through the records to establish which are, in fact, Msimango's.
He said that during Msimango's testimony, which was interrupted when the cellphone records were not available, there was tacit agreement that he would return if necessary.
During the application, Krejcir and one of the accused either called out to Van den Heever or noisily flapped pieces of exam pad paper at her, to add information to her submissions.
On Monday George Louka, once a friend then a foe of Krejcir, died in hospital while still awaiting trial for the murder of their mutual associate Lolly Jackson.
His last court appearance had been at the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court, for an application for him to be allowed to go home to Cyprus to die after being diagnosed with stage 4 lunch cancer.
He had rasped out a claim that it was not him that had killed Jackson, but Krejcir in a fight about a money transfer.
It is not yet clear whether Krejcir will have to answer to that claim but on the sidelines of Wednesday's proceedings Van den Heever told News24 said that Krejcir completely denied that claim and desperately wanted to exonerate himself.
She said she had been asked to look into how he could do this, and the possibility of an inquest had been suggested.
''He has also volunteered to provide his DNA,'' said Van Heerden.
Wednesday's case involves the disappearance of 25kg of tik and the attempted murder of Bheki Lukhele the brother of another man known only as Doctor, who worked at a cargo company at OR Tambo International Airport.
According to previous testimony, Doctor disappeared with the tik that he was supposed to get to Australia. Msimango, a businessperson from Boksburg, said he was supposed to have found Doctor.
Krejcir allegedly ordered the kidnap of Lukhele who, according to testimony, was taken to Krejcir's business Money Point in Bedfordview and he was tied up and tortured with boiling water poured over his head, and a plastic bag placed over his head.
Later some of them drove far from the office and Lukhele was given a phone to call his brother and plead with him to tell them where the drugs where.
The State has closed its case, and the next step should be for the defence to present witnesses.
- News24.com
