The application for leave to appeal by convicted Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir and his five co-accused was on Wednesday postponed by the south Gauteng High Court.
Krejcir, who represented himself during sentencing, was on Tuesday sentenced to 35 years in prison for kidnapping, attempted murder and drug dealing.
Krejcir became a fugitive from his country in 2005 and resided in the Seychelles. He arrived in South Africa two years later under a false name. In 2012, Krejcir was sentenced in absentia to eight years of imprisonment for fraud in Czechoslovakia.
In an apparent bid to delay sentencing on Monday, Krejcir fired his defense attorney Nardus Grove and thereafter had to represent himself.
On Wednesday, the Czech fugitive who said he had an economics degree obtained from a university in his home country, told Judge Colin Lamont that he had secured the services of an advocate.
Attorney SW van der Merwe told the court that he wasn’t able to consult with Krejcir on Tuesday. As a result he was not able to get the Czech to sign relevant documents, which would gave the advocate the authority to represent him.
Lamont asked Krejcir to confirm that Van der Merwe would be representing him, to which he responded “Yes”.
Krejcir, who had complained during sentencing that the judge was bias, dishonest and part of a conspiracy, was also seeking bail.
His co-accused – Desai Luphondo, Warrant Officers Samuel Modise Maropeng, George Jeff Nthoroane, Jan Lefu Mofokeng and Siboniso Miya – were also seeking leave to appeal their convictions and sentence. They were also applying for bail.
The co-accused’s defense lawyer, advocate Johan Spangenberg, told the court that he would be making three applications including; leave to appeal, bail application and introducing new evidence – two reports, a victim impact report and a pre-sentencing report.
Spangenberg wasn’t able to proceed with his applications because the other lawyers were not ready.
Judge Lamont adjourned the court. African News Agency (ANA)
