Johannesburg - In a bail application that has been continuing for almost two months, Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir has been summoned to testify for a third time, where he once again proclaimed his innocence.
Krejcir and four others – Siboniso Miya, Nkanyiso Mafunda, Simphiwe Memela and Lyubomir Borislav Grigorov – are facing nine counts, including murder, for allegedly killing suspected drug dealer Sam Issa.
The Bedfordview resident and alleged underworld figure was gunned down in his Audi Q7 in 2013, in what the State believes was an argument over debt gone terribly wrong. The State has alleged that Krejcir owed Issa half a million rand and chose to have him killed – by hiring Miya and his cohorts – rather than repay him.
Krejcir and Grigorov began their bail application at the Germiston Magistrate’s Court at the beginning of last month. State prosecutor Lawrence Gcaba claimed at the time that the proceedings were “purely academic” because of the number of other criminal cases against Krejcir.
However, the futility of the application has become even more apparent after Krejcir and Miya were convicted for the attempted murder of Bhekithemba Lukhele on Monday at the high court in Joburg. The prosecutor said that in Monday’s verdict, Judge Colin Lamont had labelled Miya as Krejcir’s right-hand man.
When asked about the judgment and whether it was true that Miya had been brought in to assist in Issa’s killing, Krejcir responded: “I don’t recall. I was listening but this law language was very difficult for me, I am a foreigner.”
However, when pressed further, Krejcir denied ever having telephonically contacted Miya.
He insisted he was innocent in all four cases he currently faces and that he had never had any issues with Issa.
Throughout the bail proceedings, the State has indicated it believes Krejcir is an extreme flight risk as he fled two countries before arriving in South Africa.
The application continues on September 3, when Gcaba and defence lawyer Annelene van den Heever continue their closing arguments.
The Star