Johannesburg - The man who Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir allegedly poured boiling water over said on Wednesday that he would never forgot Krejcir's words at the time.
Krejcir had said “Look at me. Do you see me?” Bheki Lukhele told the High Court in Johannesburg, sitting in Palm Ridge.
This was just moments before he poured the water over his head, Lukhele said during cross-examination by Annelene van den Heever, for Krejcir.
“I turned to look at him. He was on my left hand side.”
Lukhele explained that before this, he had been looking down because his captors did not want him to look at them. His hands had been bound behind him.
“He poured it over my head little by little,” Lukhele said through an interpreter.
“He would pour the water and then stop and ask me where is my brother. I said I did not know and he would pour the water again.”
Lukhele said he screamed in pain and moved around.
Krejcir, Desai Luphondo, warrant officers Samuel Modise Maropeng and George Nthoroane, Jan Lefu Mofokeng, and Siboniso Miya are charged with the kidnapping, assault, and attempted murder of Lukhele, allegedly to have him to reveal his brother Doctor's whereabouts. Doctor allegedly disappeared with 25kg of crystal methamphetamine (tik).
Doctor worked for a cargo company at OR Tambo International Airport and had been tasked with transporting the drug to Australia, allegedly for Krejcir.
Lukhele was kidnapped from his Katlehong home in June last year, assaulted and tortured. He was released after four days.
Van den Heever asked Lukhele whether he knew how much water was poured on to him.
“I wouldn't know how much water was in the kettle. He didn't give me the kettle to feel its weight,” he said.
The trial continues.
Sapa