‘Serbian slain because he had a loose mouth’

Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir. File photo: Thobile Mathonsi

Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir. File photo: Thobile Mathonsi

Published Nov 9, 2013

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Johannesburg - Veselin Laganin, the Serbian national who was gunned down in Bedfordview last weekend, was “taken out for blabbing his mouth” about Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir’s affairs and other dodgy dealings in the underworld.

This is according to specialist investigator Mike Bolhuis, who is part of a team probing Laganin and a string of other shady figures’ deaths recently.

Bolhuis also told the Saturday Star that Krejcir had visited Laganin three days before he was gunned down. Laganin was apparently an “associate” of Krejcir.

The pair were co-accused in an armed robbery case heard in the Pretoria Magistrate’s Court in February.

Former bouncer Jason Dominguez-Baya was also charged in the case where they allegedly robbed an electronics shop in Pretoria West in October last year.

Laganin’s shooting comes just three weeks after 51-year-old Sam Issa, a Lebanese businessman, was shot 33 times by unknown assailants, also in Bedfordview.

Issa was allegedly Krejcir’s business associate as well.

“From the information that we have received from the underworld, Veselin was a character with a very loose mouth,” said Bolhuis.

“He spoke very openly about affairs of the underworld and many people weren’t happy with that.”

Bolhuis also believes the murder of the Serbian national was staged as a robbery gone wrong.

Laganin was murdered in his apartment at the Wedgewood Green complex in Smith Street, Bedfordview. He appeared to be the 10th victim of shootings that have rocked the underworld since 2009.

“We have questions surrounding the murder of Veselin Laganin. It could be a hit staged as a robbery because once again his name is linked to other people who are involved in organised crime,” said Bolhuis.

“According to my information and my investigators, nothing of extreme value was taken. Only two watches and two cellular phones were taken, despite there being more valuable items which were not stolen.”

“That is why I do not think it was a robbery. Mastermind criminals do not break into a secure premises to steal watches and cellular phones.”

Bolhuis added two weeks ago there had been another robbery at the Wedgewood Green Complex. One person was shot and some valuables were stolen.

Although Bolhuis did not know how long Laganin had been in the country at the time of his death, he did say that the Serbian fled his home country after he was wanted for war crimes.

Bolhuis believes Laganin was involved in drug trafficking and racketeering.

“We are asking the public to come forward if they have information regarding the killings,” he said.

Police spokesperson Neville Malila also had no information on the murders. He said no arrests had been made.

Saturday Star

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