Krejcir loan cop on leave, did not resign: Hawks

The Hawks denied that a Germiston policeman who took a loan from a company associated with Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir had resigned.

Head of the Germiston organised crime unit Colonel Francois Steyn, who reportedly took a R408,000 loan from a company associated by the Czech businessman, was on annual leave, said Captain Paul Ramaloko on Tuesday.

"Steyn never offered to resign," Ramaloko said.

Beeld newspaper reported on Tuesday that Steyn had resigned but that national police commissioner Riah Phiyega refused to accept his resignation pending the outcome of an internal investigation.

"He is also not suspended. We can't suspend a member based on media reports."

Ramaloko said that Steyn was on annual leave.

"We have a team looking into the allegations [against Steyn]."

On Friday the Mail&Guardian reported that Steyn had taken a loan of R408,000 from a company Groep Twee Beleggings, but did not realise that the company was linked to Krejcir until five months later.

"I never took possession of the money. I never saw the money," Steyn was quoted as saying.

The company was reportedly registered to Krejcir's wife Katerina Krejcirova.

Steyn said the loan was organised by security consultant Cyril Beeka, who was shot dead in March 2011, so that Steyn could be a part of a start-up security company.

According to Steyn, Beeka agreed to service the loan until the company was up and running.

After Beeka's death, Steyn received a summons for the R400,000 loan. A businessman friend of Steyn's said he was owed nearly this much by Krejcir and a deal was struck for these debts to cancel each other out.

On Monday, the High Court in Johannesburg granted an urgent application for Krejcir to be moved from jail to a medical facility.

Krejcir was arrested on Friday in connection with an alleged kidnapping and assault that happened in June. Krejcir's lawyers claim he was assaulted and tasered following his arrest.

Also on Monday, Krejcir and Desai Lupondo appeared briefly in the Palm Ridge Magistrate's Court but proceedings were held in camera due to security concerns.