Sensational claims have surfaced that the mastermind behind Radovan Krejcir's failed jailbreak bid was none other than his elderly mother, Nadezda Krejcirova. Serbian hit men at R6-million each, a move to buy floor plans of the Zonderwater maximum-security prison and having a helicopter on standby had all formed part of the elaborate R25-million operation to spring Krejcir from jail in South Africa.The Sunday Times has seen correspondence between an intelligence source in Prague and forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan in which the source states: "... Radovan must escape, irrespectably [sic] what it takes or how many lives it costs ... their mafia code of ethics clearly demands and orders them to do so ... otherwise Nadezda loses her status in the Czech/Serbian mafia circles and the entire Krejcirova family are permanently marked as failures or weaklings ..."story_article_left1Several text messages, as well as a string of affidavits from former Krecjir associates, have all been handed to the South African Police Service and the Department of Correctional Services, which are investigating the escape bid.It's not the first time the millionaire businessman's mother has been fingered in his dodgy dealings. She has regularly travelled to South Africa since her son's legal woes started.In 2013, the Sunday Times revealed details of an affidavit made by one of Krejcir's former hit men, allegedly hired to kill an old enemy in Prague.That mission failed because US President Barack Obama was in town, so security was tight - and besides, the gun's silencer didn't work.But in that statement, the hit man, whose name is known to this newspaper, also named Krejcir's mother. "I met once more with Krejcir's mother in South Africa. We got into a conversation about the weapon, the Scorpion, and why it would not work."She said words to the effect that she was tired of digging this gun up in her garden for him, yet he did not manage to do anything with it."Krejcir was livid about that assassination flop - "Radovan said he could not understand why we could not do the job. He said anyone can walk into a McDonald's and shoot someone and walk out with the job done," said the hit man.Last weekend, authorities swooped on Krejcir's cell and seized cellphones, Taser guns, notes and a 9mm revolver, all of which were supposedly to be used during the escape.The plan was for Krejcir to travel over the Swaziland border, then on to Maputo, Mozambique, before catching a freight plane to South America.There is nothing far-fetched about this - Krejcir fled his native country in dramatic fashion and later had to do the same when he became unwelcome in the Seychelles. He then travelled to South Africa under a false name.He was arrested at OR Tambo International Airport and almost immediately launched an asylum application, claiming his life was in danger in the Czech Republic.While the asylum bid drags on, dead bodies have been piling up in South Africa, including those of former strip club boss Lolly Jackson and Cyril Beeka.Krejcir has been implicated in several murders but he has repeatedly said he is innocent.His latest failed jailbreak bid was foiled barely two weeks before he is to be sentenced for attempted murder, drug dealing and kidnapping that would see his prison privileges drastically altered and probably make an escape much harder.full_story_image_hleft1The Sunday Times has established that police are investigating claims that:• The firearm found in his cell last weekend was smuggled into jail at a price of R1.5-million. "We know that there was R1.5-million paid to smuggle a gun into the prison and it was found inside a punching bag," said a senior prison official;• About R3.5-million had been made as a down payment for the escape; and• In a bizarre move the prison's emergency support team, a tactical response unit, was suspiciously moved outside the prison prior to last weekend.Police confirmed that so far 10 inmates, five correctional services officials and at least one outsider have been linked to the escape bid.A senior correctional services official said a preliminary investigation had established that the escape was to take place on Saturday night once the lights were out."There was definitely a helicopter ... hovering around the Zonderwater area on Saturday," said the official.A senior police official said: "We were aware of his escape plan and details of that helicopter were already taken after an informant contacted us."Krejcir's lawyers have denied his involvement in an escape bid."Our client has no knowledge of such information [hired helicopter], nor was our client confronted or interrogated either by the DCS [Department of Correctional Services] or SAPS concerning these allegations."Our client strongly denies any involvement or knowledge of any plans to escape. He will furthermore deny any knowledge or involvement of the firearm found," said lawyer Johan Eksteen.He added that the family denied any knowledge of the escape plan.Krejcir was recently found guilty of attempted murder, kidnapping and dealing in drugs, related to the kidnapping and torture of Bheki Lukhele, whose brother Doctor had allegedly disappeared with 25kg of tik.full_story_image_hleft2Today, as the Czech fugitive sits in that cell at Zonderwater Prison, he is no doubt livid again. If someone hadn't bungled the escape plan, he could be downing Jägermeister shots somewhere in Argentina, where he had planned to settle after his eventful eight years in South Africa.With a bit of luck, just maybe, his girlfriend - Playboy model Marissa Christopher, who has turned to selling cupcakes for toddler parties since his arrest nearly two years ago - would have joined him there.sub_head_start Promotion for head sleuth sub_head_endDirty cops and the dead bodies that had piled up in South Africa since the arrival of Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir called for special measures.So police management called up Free State detective Freddy Ramuhala to head the investigating team in Gauteng.Having quietly made a name for himself by cracking the SBV heist case in Limpopo, where four guards were burnt alive in the back of their cash-in-transit van, and later as lead detective in the Free State's organised crime division, Ramuhala was identified as the man for the job.story_article_right2He was promoted to lieutenant-colonel this week after his team secured the first criminal conviction against Krejcir in South Africa.A career policeman and a family man, Ramuhala said he was dedicated to tackling criminals - and regardless of Krejcir's reputation as a dangerous man, it had to be done."I was never scared. If I had got scared it would have meant that I was not carrying out my duties. If I was scared that would have also meant that I am not protecting my country and the victims out there."Krejcir was convicted last month of attempted murder, kidnapping and dealing in drugs. The case related to the kidnapping and torture of Bheki Lukhele. Krejcir is to be sentenced on October 12."That was a big victory for me and for the police," said Ramuhala. "I am happy that my job was done and I managed to bring Krejcir to book."The father of two said the "beauty" of the case was that it led to major breakthroughs for the police in other cases against Krejcir -"including cases which your newspaper has reported on".During the investigation, he and his team uncovered a complicated web of underworld criminals with unsavoury links to police officers, he said.jikat@sundaytimes.co.za..