Krejcir case: Another Hawks member arrested

The 46-year-old warrant officer was arrested just after 1pm.

Czech businessman Radovan Krejcir at the scene where he survived an attempted hit on his life in Bedfordview. Picture: Christa van der Walt/EWN.

Mandy Wiener | 2112 days ago

JOHANNESBURG - A second Hawks member has been arrested in connection with Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir's case.

The 46-year-old warrant officer was arrested just after 1pm on Tuesday.

He worked closely with the 41-year-old Hawks member arrested on Gauteng's East Rand earlier in the day.

Both men are believed to report to Colonel Frans Steyn of the Organised Crime Unit.

Last week, Steyn confirmed he received a R400,000 loan from a company affiliated to the Czech businessman.

Responding to the first arrest, forensic consultant Paul O'Sullivan said police were making good progress.

"The person concerned was known to have been consorting with Radovan Krejcir and was quite often seen in his company, picking up bags of money at Krejcir's shops as well. I think it's a good step."

Krejcir was arrested on Friday on charges of kidnapping and attempted murder, with an alternative charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm.

He and his alleged accomplice Desai Lupondo appeared in court on Monday in connection with the same case.

The South Gauteng High Court granted Krejcir an order to be moved to a private hospita l, finding failure to do so could lead to organ failure and cardiac arrest.

Krejcir's arrest comes as he fights battles on a number of fronts, with police circling in and public frustration growing.

He arrived in the country six years ago using a fake passport.

Four of his associates have been killed in the past month.

Veselin Laganin and Sam Issa were killed in two separate incidents in October, while Ronny Bvuma and Jan Charvat were killed when a bomb went off at Krejcir's Money Point shop on 12 November.

In July, he survived a bizarre assassination attempt when remote-controlled shotguns opened fire on him from behind the number plate of a parked car outside the same shop.

The South African Revenue Service has frozen his assets and a multi-disciplinary task team has been investigating multiple underworld murders he has been linked to.

Krecjir is also due to appear in court next week to fight ongoing attempts to extradite him to his home country where he has been charged for money laundering.

Timeline

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