The National Prosecuting Authority is to bring an application to have the first appearance of Radovan Krejcir and his co-accused heard in camera.
Senior public prosecutor Kenny Ramavhoya told a throng of local and international journalists waiting at the Palm Ridge magistrate court near Katlehong on Monday morning that the NPA would be bringing the application due to “safety and security concerns”.
But Ramavhoya could not elaborate on what the security issues were, or whether Krejcir received any threats to his safety since his arrest on Friday night.
Armed guards from Ekurhuleni Metro police’s swat unit forced journalists to wait outside of the court on Monday. Krejcir arrived at the court a little earlier in a large police escort, with sirens and over 10 armed guards patrolling around the court entrance so that he could not be seen.
Krejcir is facing charges of kidnapping and attempted murder in relation to an incident that allegedly occurred on Johannesburg’s east Rand in June.
Krejcir’s lawyers brought an urgent application to have their client moved to a medical facility, Eyewitness News reported on Sunday.
Krejcir’s lawyers claim that the Czech fugitive was assaulted in custody following his arrest.
The decision by the NPA to ask the court to hold Krejcir’s first appearance in camera is in stark contrast to a press briefing called by the national police commissioner on Saturday to publicly announce that the police arrested Krejcir. Usually, an arrested person is not named until they have first appeared in court.
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