Leak thwarts police

17 December 2014 - 02:11 By Graeme Hosken
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Czech asylum seeker Radovan Krejcir. File photo.
Czech asylum seeker Radovan Krejcir. File photo.
Image: MOELETSI MABE

The raid was meant to seize weapons believed hidden underground but when the police arrived at the Vaal River home of Radovan Krejcir all they found were empty holes.

The police suspect that one of their own tipped someone off about the impending raid.

The missing weapons, said to include assault rifles and ammunition, are thought to have been removed only hours before the police raided the property, south of Johannesburg, on Friday.

All that was left were mounds of sand, holes - and a large number of documents.

The raids were made after the police and prison officials recovered three cellphones and 36 memory sticks hidden in milk cartons found in Krejcir's prison cell on Wednesday last week.

The Czech fugitive, who is wanted in his homeland on charges of kidnapping, is awaiting trial at Pretoria's Kgosi Mampuru II prison, charged with attempted murder, kidnapping and assault. He will stand trial early next year.

Hawks spokesman Captain Paul Ramaloko said he was unable to comment on the raid.

A source, who cannot be named, said that when the police arrived at Krejcir's home they found large holes in the garden.

"A search of the property led to the discovery of wooden crates and some very large holes. It is clear [someone] knew the police were coming.

"Investigators had solid information. They knew exactly what to search for and where, but unfortunately they were beaten to it."

The source said that, although the weapons had disappeared, the police had secured vital information contained in thousands of documents.

A police officer said the police were trying to establish who had leaked the warning about the raid.

"We have a few leads. It is just a matter of time before we track them down," he said.

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