Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir has been convicted of kidnapping and attempted murder in a case that is linked to a botched drug deal. The victim, Bhekithemba Lukele, is the brother of a man who allegedly duped Krejcir out of R70,000 and a multi-million rand shipment of illegal methamphetamine drugs (tik).His assault, the state asserted, was a bid to draw out Lukele’s brother, Doctor Nkosi, a supervisor at Swissport Cargo Services at OR Tambo International Airport.Nkosi, a section 204 state witness, is in protective custody.During the trial, he told the court how he was approached to ensure a bag allegedly filled with drugs reached Australia. He said he was paid R6,500 for two trial runs to send bags to Australia in 2012. Both failed. When he realised he was “involved in dangerous things”, he demanded R250,000.Nkosi said he agreed to a third attempt to send the bag in June last year. He was given R70,000 and when the balance was not forthcoming, he decided to keep the bag. He then made plans with an airport security officer to sell the contents.Lukele, an East Rand businessman, testified in court that police officers used their badges to kidnap him from his house.They then bound his hands with cable ties, blindfolded him and took him to Krejcir’s Bedfordview Money Point office in Johannesburg where he was tortured.Lukele said his skin started peeling after Krejcir poured boiling water over his head, while threatening to kill him if he did not reveal the whereabouts of his brother.Today, Krejcir was found not guilty of drug dealing but convicted of attempted drug dealing.His five co-accused were also convicted on various charges.Taxi boss Siboniso Miya and Hawks Warrant Officer Samuel “Saddam” Maruping were both found guilty of attempted murder, kidnapping and attempted drug dealing while businessman Desai Lupondo was found guilty of drug dealing, attempted murder and kidnapping.The other two Hawks warrant officers, Jeff Nthoroane and Jan Mofokeng, were both convicted of kidnapping.Nthoroane was acquitted of attempted murder but convicted of assault instead, as well as attempted drug dealing. Mofokeng was also convicted of attempted murder but acquitted of drug dealing. ..