Johannesburg - Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir's lawyer on Wednesday brought props to the High Court in Johannesburg, sitting in Palm Ridge, to try and prove a State witness had lied.
Annelene van den Heever brought packets of sugar and maize meal wrapped up with masking tape, along with boxes of various sizes, and a black sports bag.
State witness Bhekizitha Khumalo earlier told the court that on June 22 last year, he was with a man only known as Doctor when he unpacked a black sports bag containing 25 parcels of drugs at a house.
In June last year, Doctor allegedly disappeared with 25kg of tik (methamphetamine) he had been tasked with transporting to Australia, allegedly for Krejcir. Doctor worked for a cargo company at OR Tambo International Airport.
Van Den Heever told Khumalo: “I put it to you that this incident on the 22nd never happened. There was no sports bag and it was never filled with parcels, or as you put it, drugs.”
The court heard that Khumalo was paid about R110 000 to take Doctor to transport the sports bag.
Van den Heever questioned Khumalo on the size of the black bag and brought a box to court with similar dimensions. Khumalo estimated the size of the parcels and bag based on her examples.
She said based on the dimensions he gave, 25 parcels would not fit into the sports bag. She said her team managed to pack only 14 into the sports bag.
Judge Collin Lamont said more parcels could be packed into the bag. He said it was necessary to place on the record that more could fit in and told her to continue her cross-examination.
Van den Heever said to Khumalo: “I put it to you that there was no sports bag and there were no 25 packets.”
Khumalo responded: “I reiterate, there was a sports bag and 25 packets. I'm telling the court what I saw. I told the court what I counted.”
Krejcir, Desai Luphondo, Warrant Officers Samuel “Saddam” Maropeng and George Nthoroane, and Jan Lefu Mofokeng, and Siboniso Miya face charges of kidnapping, attempted murder, and dealing in drugs.
They allegedly kidnapped Doctor's brother Bheki Lukhele from his home in Katlehong, East Rand, in June last year.
Lukhele has testified about how he was bound, blindfolded, assaulted and had boiling water poured over him, allegedly by Krejcir, for him to reveal Doctor's whereabouts.
All the accused have denied involvement in the matter.
Van den Heever questioned Khumalo on why he took the money.
“When I saw a lot of money I was confused,” said Khumalo.
Lamont asked: “Were you greedy for the money?”
Khumalo responded: “Yes, when I received the money I put it in my pocket.”
He told the court he wanted to meet Doctor to say that it would be the last time he helped.
The trial resumes at 9.30am on Thursday.
Sapa