Krejcir's two mansions to be auctioned off

17 November 2015 - 09:09 By Mandy Wiener

If you've been curious about what the luxury homes of suspected crime boss Radovan Krejcir look like inside you now have a chance to get a peek. But it's going to cost you a refundable R100,000 to register as a prospective bidder.Krejcir's multimillion-rand mansions in Bedfordview, east of Johannesburg, and on the banks of the Vaal River are going under the hammer on November 28 while he languishes in Zonderwater prison, Pretoria.Both homes are subject to a SARS preservation order.It is not known how much the properties might raise - there are no reserve prices and auctioneers Michael James Organisation will not give an estimate.The multistorey Bedfordview mansion, which Krejcir bought for R13-million in 2008, is built on a cliffside on Kloof Road and has spectacular views of Johannesburg. It has a lift, wine cellar, rim-flow swimming pool, enclosed patio and an aviary.It is this house that the Hawks raided with much fanfare in 2011 after first mistakenly storming the home of Krejcir's neighbour. They smashed their way in using an armoured vehicle, causing more than R100,000 damage.Russell Berkman, a director of Jawitz Properties, said the unique design of Krejcir's house and its lift made it "stand out from the rest"."Most upmarket Bedfordview transactions would be between R8-million and about R12-million. This property should fall well outside that."Bedfordview has had sales of R24.5-million, there's a number at R17-million, so the ceiling would be in excess of R24.5-million," Berkman said.The Vaal property has rolling lawns, river frontage, a jetty and an expansive entertainment area.SARS secured its preservation order last year against a Krejcir-associated company, Groep2 Beleggings, and 15 other respondents.The order ensured that Krejcir's assets, those of his wife, Katerina Krejcirova, and those of a number of business entities and trusts were put into curatorship.SARS claimed that Krejcir had used Groep2 Beleggings to buy the luxury properties and the company was merely a front for questionable transactions.It alleged that he had not fully disclosed his income and had used a network of companies to avoid paying income tax.Krejcir's wife and sons are in the Czech Republic and the homes have been vacant since they left.Krejcir's tax attorney, Jenny Farber, said the two properties were under curatorship but the curator had decided to sell them to prevent their deterioration.This is the second time that the curator has attempted to auction the properties. Farber confirmed that her client had opposed an attempt in April but was not opposing the sales this time.Krejcir was recently convicted of attempted murder and kidnapping and is awaiting sentencing. He is facing at least three other trials in connection with other allegations...

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