forensic experts have spent
hours combing a Gauteng
home allegedly used by Czech
fugitive Radovan Krejcir to
torture and kill those who
double-crossed him.
The search of one of several of Krejcir's
alleged "whack houses", which began on
Tuesday night and continued into the early
hours of yesterday, was carried out at the
Edenvale house in which German luxury
car specialist Uwe Gemballa is said to have
been killed in 2010.
At the time of the murder the house was
being rented by Krejcir's business manager,
Ivan Savov.
Krejcir has never formally been linked to
the murder of Gemballa, who was allegedly
suffocated in the house after he was
kidnapped from OR Tambo International
Airport.
He was reportedly linked to a money-
laundering scam involving murdered strip
club boss Lolly Jackson. Gemballa's body
was found - in a shallow grave in Pretoria
- eight months after he went missing.
As forensic experts searched the house and
its surrounding buildings, including a garage,
heavily armed police officers kept guard
outside the premises.
Lawyer Reg Joubert, whose practice is based
at the house, declined to comment on
what the police had done at his premises.
In an e-mail he said: "I moved into the
property after the relevant events."
Police spokesman, Lieutenant-General
Solomon Makgale confirmed the operation,
saying it was in connection with a "Krejcir-
related investigation".
"Items were found, which our forensic
experts are busy processing to establish if
they are of evidential value. This search
has nothing to do with the Gemballa
investigation."
According to police sources, the property is
known as one of Krejcir's "whack houses",
where he allegedly had those who double-
crossed him tortured and killed.
It is a claim his lawyer, Piet du Plessis,
dismisses as a police "fantasy".
Krejcir is facing a raft of charges. He is to
go on trial next month in the Palm Ridge
Magistrate's Court, in Katlehong, east of
Johannesburg, for allegedly ordering the
kidnapping of Bheki Lukhele, whom he
allegedly helped torture after Lukhele's
brother, Doctor Nkosi, stole 25kg of Tik
(methamphetamine) from the Czech.
Next month, Krejcir will stand trial for
conspiring to murder private forensic
investigator Paul O'Sullivan and crime
intelligence officer Ximba Nkosana, and for
the murder of his debt collector Phumlani
Ncube.
A police officer with knowledge of Tuesday
night's search said it was for specific
evidence of torture: "Our forensic experts
were searching for certain things: blood
splatters, traces of body fluids, bullet
markings.
"They found items, which are not related to
the Gemballa investigation. They are things
that can hopefully link Krejcir to some very
serious crimes. They recovered items such
as parts of a pulley system and other
implements, most of which were found in
the garage.
"Though there is damage from nature to
the house, enough potential evidence was
found from which forensic analysis can be
conducted."
Du Plessis said: "These allegations of whack
houses have been around for years. Nothing
in the form of any evidence, forensic or
photographic, has ever come to light." He
said Krejcir denied any link to murders.
"I have viewed these murder and assault
dockets. There isn't a stitch of evidence.
"The police claimed Krejcir used a house in
Kensington, but they have never been able
to produce this or any other house.
"Krejcir doesn't have people tortured or
whacked. This thing of 'whack houses' is
absolute nonsense," the lawyer said.
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