Krejcir, Pistorius and the seized bike

14 November 2014 - 02:39 By Graeme Hosken
subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now
JOKER IN THE PACK: Radovan Krejcir in the Palm Ridge Regional Court
JOKER IN THE PACK: Radovan Krejcir in the Palm Ridge Regional Court
Image: MOELETSI MABE

Oscar Pistorius appears to have inadvertently ruffled Radovan Krejcir's feathers over his use of the international fugitive and suspected underworld crime boss's specially requested gym equipment.

An infuriated Krejcir wrote to the head of the Kgosi Mampuru II Prison yesterday after prison authorities in the hospital section confiscated a treadmill and exercise bicycle from him. Both he and Pistorius are housed in single cells of the hospital section.

Krejcir, who in on trial for attempted murder and faces a separate murder charge, also sent the letter to the public protector, the Correctional Services Ministry and the SA Human Rights Commission.

The confiscation, according to prison sources, happened when Pistorius recently began using the equipment after apparently coming to an arrangement with Krejcir.

Krejcir, according to his lawyer, Piet du Plessis, had requested the equipment for health reasons.

He said sentenced prisoners, such as Pistorius, were restricted on what they could have access to.

"Krejcir requested these items before Pistorius arrived. He was using them up until recently when they were removed from him."

Du Plessis said although he had not yet read the letter, which he claimed Krejcir wrote in his personal capacity, he understood the gym equipment was housed close to Krejcir's cell.

"They were moved to another part of the section away from where he is housed, and then moved again to an unknown location."

A prison source said Krejcir was furious over what had happened.

"He is definitely not pleased. You don't want to get on the wrong side of him. He has made it known that he wants his gym equipment back," the source said.

"I definitely don't think he will allow Oscar to use it, or anything else that he has such as his TV, any time soon."

Correctional Services ministry spokesman, Logan Maistry, said the department would not respond to inmates' complaints, via the media.

"The department will ensure appropriate security measures are in place for all offenders."

subscribe Just R20 for the first month. Support independent journalism by subscribing to our digital news package.
Subscribe now