Krejcir appears set to negotiate plea deal
Radovan Krejcir will be entering into negotiations as part of a potential plea deal pertaining to the mass of outstanding criminal cases against him.
|||Johannesburg - After three years of incarceration, Radovan Krejcir will be entering into negotiations on Friday as part of a potential plea deal pertaining to the mass of outstanding criminal cases against him.
The Czech fugitive is on trial for the murder of alleged Bedfordview drug kingpin Sam Issa in 2013.
Krejcir appeared on Wednesday in the high court in Joburg, where it was revealed that he was trying to get a new attorney.
Earlier this month, Cliff Alexander withdrew as Krejcir’s legal representative after not being paid for his services.
It’s understood that Krejcir’s family in the Czech Republic had been paying his legal fees but had in recent weeks been withholding payments. The Czech has had to rely on his family’s money after his assets were seized by the South African Revenue Service.
On Wednesday, however, Krejcir told the court that he had almost finalised fee negotiations with a new attorney, believed to be Eric Bryer, who attended proceedings on Wednesday. Bryer has represented hip hop star Khuli Chana.
While Krejcir’s initial plan was to ask the curator in charge of his seized estate to release funds to pay for his legal fees, on Wednesday he told the court that he hoped to avoid that lengthy process by making a deal with his new attorney.
The trial was postponed to Monday for the legal representation issue to be finalised.
However, four sources close to the investigation said Krejcir had made a request to meet investigators to discuss pleading guilty on several of the criminal charges.
The meeting comes as Krejcir has dropped his bid to acquire refugee status in South Africa, and his extradition proceedings continue at the Kempton Park Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.
Krejcir’s refugee board application has stalled the extradition case for years.
However, even if the Czech Republic’s attempts to extradite him were successful, it would be up to Justice Minister Michael Masutha and his Czech counterpart to determine if Krejcir would be sent home.
One of the main obstacles for Masutha would be the large number of criminal trials awaiting Krejcir, but if he chooses to plead guilty, this would no longer be an issue.
Krejcir would then be able to serve the potential South African-imposed sentences in the Czech Republic.
Last year, the Czech fugitive was sentenced to 35 years in prison for attempted murder, kidnapping and attempted drug dealing after torturing the brother of a man who had fled with a large supply of crystal meth.
Krejcir is also set to be tried for alleged assassination attempts on forensic consultant Paul O’Sullivan and police Colonel Nkosana “Killer” Ximba.
He has also been charged alongside a Correctional Services officer for an escape plot from Zonderwater prison.
Sources said there were numerous other charges set to be laid against Krejcir, but only after the current criminal matters were finalised.
shain.germaner@inl.co.za
The Star