Krejcir case back in court in October

SHAIN GERMANER

A threat to have the case against Czech businessman Radovan Krejcir struck from the court roll has forced the prosecution to speed up proceedings.

At the Johannesburg Magistrate’s Court yesterday, Krejcir’s lawyer, Mike Hellens SC, said his firm, BDK Attorneys, had been ready to apply for the case to be thrown out if the prosecution delayed any longer.

But Hellens and State prosecutor Riegal du Toit reached a mutual agreement to postpone the case for a possible trial date.

Hellens said either the prosecution were confident about their case or had “chickened out” over the possibility of the case being struck from the roll, hence the quick decision on postponement.

Yesterday the prosecution acknowledged that the defence had yet to receive a copy of the case docket, an error that would be remedied before September 12.

Du Toit said this would allow any further queries or requests to be addressed before the case was set to continue on October 11.

The Czech businessman is facing charges of defrauding Liberty Life Holdings of R4.5 million, after receiving the money as a payout on a life insurance policy.

He had claimed he was suffering from cancer of the urinary tract.

The doctor involved in the fraudulent claim, Marian Tupy, was charged earlier this year after he had approached the police, saying Krejcir had been directly involved in the scam.

Outside the court yesterday, Krejcir said he was hoping the case would “go quicker” but was still waiting for a briefing from his lawyers on what to do next.

Krejcir was released on bail of R500 000, with his legal team last month attempting to have the sum halved – an issue not brought before the court yesterday.