Cop threatened me, Krejcir tells court

8759-The bail application of Czech businessman Radovan Krejcir and his former accountant Mike Grigorov was sitting yesterday(Wednesday) in the Germiston Magistrate's Court on Gauteng's East Rand Picture:Dumisani Dube 29.07.2015

8759-The bail application of Czech businessman Radovan Krejcir and his former accountant Mike Grigorov was sitting yesterday(Wednesday) in the Germiston Magistrate's Court on Gauteng's East Rand Picture:Dumisani Dube 29.07.2015

Published Jul 30, 2015

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Johannesburg - Radovan Krejcir’s bail hearing in the Germiston Magistrate’s Court intensified on Wednesday after the Czech businessman revealed he was allegedly being threatened by his escorting police officer.

Krejcir is on trial for the 2013 murder of businessman Sam Issa, a suspected Bedfordview-based drug dealer. The trial has been stalled as Krejcir has applied for bail, even though he is in custody for three other criminal trials.

In a continuation of proceedings where Krejcir claimed a conspiracy against him that goes as high as national police commissioner General Riah Phiyega, he took the stand again on Wednesday.

He said a member of the police task team investigating him, Captain Stacey*, had threatened him.

“Either I must withdraw my bail application, or new cases and charges will be brought against me,” he said he was told. “It’s a conspiracy!”

“This happened the first day of the bail application (July 7) while we were in the car,” Krejcir said.

But the prosecution was confused about the relevance of the allegations. “Why are you only bringing this to the court’s attention now?” prosecutor Lawrence Gcaba asked.

Krejcir replied that he had to consult his counsel, and despite this taking place on July 7, he didn’t have the opportunity to do so until Tuesday.

However, Krejcir’s defence did clarify to the court that it was mentioned to his attorney before Wednesday’s accusations were made.

“I don’t understand. Captain (Stacey) escorted you to the dentist on July 17, she paid for your bill and has confided in you… but she’s threatening you?” Gcaba questioned.

“No, she threatened me on July 7 on my way back to prison, but since then we have been discussing it,” he said.

When asked by Gcaba what this had to do with his bail application, Krejcir said it needed to be brought up because it was connected.

“She didn’t want me to proceed… I had to pretend with her that I wasn’t going to proceed with the bail application. It looked like an understanding, but not from my side.

“This is unfair, unlawful and not the right procedures. I can’t be framed for crimes I didn’t commit,” he added.

Despite these allegations, Gcaba extricated from Krejcir that Stacey’s threats didn’t affect his bail application.

At one point during proceedings, Krejcir and Gcaba argued about his connection to Gauteng crime intelligence officer Joey Mabasa, something that was also discussed on Tuesday.

“Do you want to play?” Gcaba asked, to which Krejcir defiantly responded “Yes!”

Krejcir, along with four others, has been accused of murdering Issa, allegedly over money that belonged to him.

Krejcir told the court that he had no motive to do this.

“Everyone knows my background. I come from a wealthy family… I don’t need to rob and murder anyone for money.”

The bail hearing was to continue on Thursday.

*Not her real name, on request.

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The Star

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