Krejcir draws in Riah

Police commissioner Riah Phiyega and other high-ranking police officers have been subpoenaed to provide documents in relation to Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir's trial in the Johannesburg High Court.

This was revealed by Krejcir's lawyer, Annelene van den Heever, yesterday.

Krejcir and five co-accused are appearing in connection with charges of kidnapping and torturing businessman Bhekithemba Lukele in June last year.

She told the court she was waiting for responses to several subpoenas that, she said, were "highly pertinent" to her client's case.

Among those subpoenaed were Phiyega, acting head of crime intelligence Major-General Chris Ngcobo and Colonel Nkosana "Killer" Ximba, a senior policeman investigating Krejcir.

Another was Paul O'Sullivan, a private investigator involved in probing Krejcir.

Van den Heever said the defence wanted Phiyega to hand over a diary and correspondence relating to the investigation and the arrest of Krejcir.

The deadline to respond to the subpoenas is today.

By yesterday afternoon, police had not yet decided on how to respond, according to police spokesman Lieutenant-General Solo-mon Makgale.

Krejcir, Hawks warrant officers Samuel Maruping, Jeff Nthoroane and Jan Mofokeng, as well as Desai Lupondo and taxi boss Siboniso Miya, are facing drug dealing, kidnapping and attempted murder charges.

The court has heard details of how Krejcir allegedly used police officers to kidnap Lukele and take him to his Money Point offices in Bedfordview, where Lukele was allegedly tortured.

The state says the motive was to get to Lukele's brother, an OR Tambo International Airport employee known as "Doctor", who allegedly ran off with 25kg of tik belonging to Krejcir.

Van den Heever said subpoenas had also been issued to secure Lukele's medical records detailing injuries he sustained during the alleged torture. From O'Sullivan, the defence wants to see his investigation notes and police vehicle tracking records. It also wants cellphone records of Ximba, and state witnesses Paul Mthabela and Peter Msimango.

Ximba's relationship with state witnesses has been in the spotlight, as well as his possible role in the alleged kidnapping and torture of Lukele.