Krejcir cop’s alleged driver identified

Rodavan Krejcir appears at the Palm Ridge magistrates court for a fresh application for bail. Picture: Antoine de Ras, 24/02/2014

Rodavan Krejcir appears at the Palm Ridge magistrates court for a fresh application for bail. Picture: Antoine de Ras, 24/02/2014

Published May 15, 2014

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Johannesburg - A man described as a police officer's “driver” was asked to identify himself during the trial of Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir and five others in the High Court in Johannesburg, sitting in Palm Ridge, on Thursday.

Colonel Nkosana “Killer” Ximba's name has constantly come up in the trial.

Andre Steenkamp, for Desai Luphondo, requested that his client point out Ximba's driver whom he claimed had been regularly attending the court proceedings.

A man sitting behind Krejcir's wife Katerina Krejcirova in the court gallery stared straight down at his cellphone until he was asked to stand up by the judge and say his name.

“Desmond Campbell,” he answered.

State witness Vusi Msimango, who was alleged to have close relations with Ximba, denied that Campbell was present on behalf of the colonel.

“That gentleman in the gallery was allocated to fetch me from home and return me. He acts as security personnel and he isn't working alone,” Msimango said through an interpreter.

Ximba was also alleged to have been seen on the court's premises during previous proceedings.

Msimango's relationship with Ximba has repeatedly come under the spotlight during the trial.

He claimed to have met him over 10 years ago as they dated sisters.

Through his lawyer, Luphondo, has implicated Ximba in matters being discussed in the trial.

Msimango, a Boksburg businessman, testified that he had been recruited to help find a man called Doctor, who worked at a cargo company at OR Tambo International airport.

Doctor was alleged to have disappeared with 25kg of tik that he was tasked to help transport to Australia in June last year.

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

They allegedly kidnapped and tortured Doctor's brother Bheki Lukhele in a bid to make him reveal his brother's whereabouts. Lukhele was later dumped alive next to a stadium in Katlehong, on the East Rand.

All the accused have pleaded not guilty to the charges.

On Thursday, Steenkamp put to Msimango that his client claimed to know nothing about missing drugs.

Luphondo had wanted assistance in locating Doctor as he owed him money and had since disappeared, Steenkamp said.

Msimango had been recruited to assist as he knew Ximba, a high ranking police officer, who could help him trace Doctor.

Msimango denied Luphondo's version.

He said he was also expecting to receive 2kg of tik if he helped locate the missing 25kg.

Msimango explained that he would get about R300 for each gram of tik he sold.

The 2kg would have earned him around R600,000, he said.

“I was going to sell it to my connection... a Cape Town contact,” said Msimango.

As Msimango testified, prosecutor Louis Mashiane interrupted proceedings to alert Judge Collin Lamont that one of the accused had been handed a parcel during the tea break.

“The parcel had water and an electric cable,” said Mashiane.

The parcel was alleged to have come from Krejcir's lawyer Annelene van den Heever.

Mashiane said the defence counsels had emphasised the importance of security.

He said Van den Heever had also breached court rules that an accused not be given anything that had not gone through the court officials.

Van den Heever apologised.

“I didn't think,” she said.

Lamont accepted her apology.

Sapa

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