Johannesburg – Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir’s applications for his witnesses as well as his newly appointed lawyer to be subpoenaed were refused on Tuesday by Judge Colin Lamont during sentencing proceedings at the South Gauteng High Court.
Krejcir told the court that he was unable to contact his witnesses as well as his new lawyer Cliff Alexander after the court proceedings on Monday, as he was advised to do by Lamont.
Read: Bomb threat and rattling chains at Krejcir trial
“I applied for permission, but my application was refused, I made another one with the director of the prison, but it was refused. They told me I need a court order … therefore my situation has not changed,” Krejcir said through a Czech interpreter.
Krejcir became a fugitive from his country in 2005 and resided in the Seychelles.He arrived in South Africa two years later under a false name. In 2012, Krejcir was sentenced in absentia to eight years of imprisonment for fraud in his home country.
Lamont asked Krejcir again who his new lawyer was, like he did on Monday.
“Cliff Alexander, his isn’t here because he is busy with another case,” replied Krejcir, whose sentencing has been postponed several time for a variety of reasons. On Monday the court adjourned after a bomb scare.
Also read: Nurse confirms Krejcir’s medical status
In October 2015 Krejcir was found guilty of ordering the kidnap and torture of Bheki Lukhele, whose brother, Doctor, had allegedly disappeared with 25kg of tik. Doctor worked at a cargo company at OR Tambo International Airport.
Earlier on Monday, Krejcir fired his defence attorney Nardus Grove before sentencing could get under way.
The Czech fugitive, who is being sentenced along with five other accused – Desai Luphondo, Warrant Officers Samuel Modise Maropeng, George Jeff Nthoroane, Jan Lefu Mofokeng and Siboniso Miya – then unsuccessfully tried to have Judge Colin Lamont recuse himself, alleging he was bias, dishonest and part of a conspiracy.
On Tuesday State Prosecutor Louis Mashiyane told the court that he had made attempts to contact Krejcir’s witnesses, but wasn’t able to reach the criminologist because he didn’t have his particulars.
Mashiyane said spoke to Krejcir’s new lawyer Cliff Alexander, but the attorney denied that he had been instructed to represent Krejcir.
Krejcir told the Judge that he had last spoken to Alexander on the 6th of February, but wasn’t given the opportunity to consult with him privately.
“He confirmed that he would represent me, but isn’t here because I didn’t speak to him yesterday,” Krejcir said.
Lamont reminded Krejcir that he told the court that Alexander wasn’t present in court because he had another case he was handling, before he turned down the Czech’s application for time to get hold of his witnesses.
Dressed in a navy blue T-shirt and blue jeans with his wrists and ankles cuffed, Krejcir told the court that he had been in solitary consignment and had applied countless times to be removed from it.
The convicted Czech, who is representing himself during his sentencing, said he had medical reports which stated his medical conditions as well as what he has been going through while imprisoned.
“Mrs Van Der Heever told me that the criminologist would be available when she came to visit accused two,” said Krejcir.
“I would like to respond to the question of 25 000 kgs of drugs which I couldn’t answer yesterday because I haven’t dealt with drugs. I was able to talk to one of the prison staff and he informed me that his brother used 10g a day and when he saw your comment on 1g being used he said he could bring a witness that can confirm that addicts use 10g a day,”said Krejcir in apparent reference to Judge Lamont’s question enquiring if he knew the impact 25 000kg of illicit drugs would have on society.
Krejcir, who told the court that he has an economics university degree, asked the court for ten minutes to prepare himself for his argument.
Sentencing continues.
African News Agency
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