Johannesburg - Radovan Krejcir has been dropped by yet another lawyer, allegedly because his mother has cut him off financially.
The Czech is currently on trial for the murder of alleged Bedfordview drug dealer Sam Issa, but is also the subject of an extradition process launched by his home country.
On Thursday, Krejcir appeared at the Kempton Park Magistrate's Court for the extradition proceedings, but proceedings ground to a halt after his lawyer, Cliff Alexander, announced he had not been paid and was withdrawing as counsel.
Last year, Krejcir was dropped by BDK Attorneys and Nardus Grove Attorneys for the same reason.
Standing in stunned silence, Krejcir eventually explained to the court that because his assets had been put under a preservation order by the SA Revenue Service, he had approached the curator of his estate to request funds to pay for his legal fees.
He indicated that he wished Alexander to continue as his preferred legal representative, but said he hoped he would have resolved the issue by his next appearance on July 21.
However, outside of proceedings, two sources close to the case confirmed that while Krejcir’s mother Nadezda Krejcirova had been arranging the money to pay for his legal fees, she had chosen to no longer financially support her son in the courts.
Krejcirova was initially responsible for providing the R500 000 bail money for his fraud case in 2012. Without a legal representative, the Czech Republic's extradition claim will be difficult for Krejcir to oppose, especially after having recently dropped his application for refugee status in South Africa.
On Thursday, Krejcir and State prosecutors JJ du Toit and Deon Barnard held private negotiations at the court with permission from the presiding magistrate. However, it’s unclear if any deal was made or proposed.
The Star