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Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa. File photo: David Ritchie
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The case against Czech businessman Radovan Krejcir is “water tight”, Police Minister Nathi Mthethwa said on Saturday.
“The national commissioner assembled a team of experienced investigators who followed each lead and gathered every piece of evidence so that by the time they effected an arrest, there would be a water tight case,” he said in a statement.
“We commend our team of investigators following this arrest.”
Mthethwa said contrary to what people perceived as reluctance on the part of the police to act around some crimes involving Krejcir, particularly around the Bedfordview area, he knew a lot was being done by the police.
Krejcir and a co-accused were arrested on Friday on charges of attempted murder and kidnapping.
At a press conference on Saturday, national police commissioner general Riah Phiyega said an initial charge of assault with intent to do grievous bodily harm was reported in the East Rand.
Czech businessman Radovan Krejcir. File Photo: Christa Van der Walt
EWN
However, given the severity of the assault, the charge would be changed to attempted murder.
“Regarding the issue around attempted murder, indeed when you talk about cause to do grievous bodily harm we would say there is a case for attempted murder. We probably will look into those when we deal with this matter in court,” said Phiyega told reporters in Pretoria.
She would not mention the details of the complainant, other than saying “it's a South African male from the East Rand”.
Phiyega said the assault happened in June.
Mthethwa said he would continue to observe the developments in the matter and said he remained hopeful that justice would prevail at the end.
“Police shall continue to work smart and hard, to ensure that they crumble crime syndicates,” he said.
“South Africa is a democratic state where the rule of law applies. Any person who defies these laws, will face the full might of the law.”
Krejcir and his co-accused are expected to appear in the Alberton Magistrate's Court on Monday. -Sapa