Johannesburg - The MAN who controlled Radovan Krejcir’s purse is being questioned by police for his alleged involvement in several charges of murder, assassination plots and torture.
Two independent police sources on Tuesday morning named Krejcir’s accountant as Lyubomir “Mike” Grigorov, who has already been implicated in court in Krejcir’s kidnapping, attempted murder and drug-dealing trial that was postponed to July on Monday.
Grigorov is believed to have been injured in the explosion at Money Point, the Bedfordview pawn shop allegedly under Krejcir’s control, in November last year.
Police spokesman Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale would not disclose the man’s name as he is yet to appear before court.
But two independent sources identified him as Grigorov.
The 32-year-old accountant, believed to have been in charge of paying Krejcir’s hit men, was arrested at the Benoni police station where he reported as part of his bail conditions on a separate matter. A source said it was a “major surprise” for Grigorov when he was arrested.
The Bulgarian is out on R5 000 and R25 000 bail for two charges of fraud not linked to the Krejcir probe.
Makgale said Grigorov would face all the charges Krejcir was facing, but that they decided to start with conspiracy to murder forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan and police officer Colonel Nkosana Ximba.
This assassin-ation plot was foiled in January.
He is also likely to face charges for the possession of illegal firearms and ammunition, and for the murder of Phumlani Ncube.
Ncube, a Zimbabwean debt collector, was shot dead near Heidelberg, south-east of Joburg, in July last year.
Krejcir and his five co-accused appeared in the Palm Ridge Magistrate’s Court on Monday to stand trial for kidnapping the brother of a man who disappeared with drugs worth millions of rand last June.
The drugs allegedly belonged to Krejcir.
Captor turned State witness Paul Mthabela testified in the kidnapping trial two weeks ago that a man he knew as “Mike” had recommended killing their victim.
“Mike was relating how the police were fearful of Radovan,” Mthabela told the court. He testified that Mike allegedly said police always showed Krejcir “respect” when they visited the Czech fugitive’s office and home.
However, Mthabela said he did not want the victim killed because he believed the police would track them down and arrest them.
“This is South Africa, this is not Bosnia,” Mthabela apparently told Mike. “Police officers do their work, they arrest people.”
A source close to the investigation said Grigorov had not denied being present during the kidnapping and this morning instructed his lawyers to make a statement while he was being questioned.
The details of this statement were unclear at the time of publication.
Grigorov was reportedly injured in the blast at Money Point which killed Ronny Bvuma, who is believed to have acted as the owner of the store.
The kidnapping trial will only continue on July 21 because Krejcir’s lawyers have subpoenaed national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega to hand over documents which could reveal why she ordered his arrest.
O’Sullivan, Ximba and Crime Intelligence boss Chris Ngcobo have also been subpoenaed and will have two weeks to file opposing papers if they wish to fight it.
Two of Krejcir’s five co-accused have indicated they needed time to appoint new lawyers.
The Star