‘Police officer allowed Czech fugitive Krejcir to threaten me with a firearm’

A FORMER employee of notorious Czech businessman Radovan Krejcir alleges a police officer allowed Krejcir to threaten him with a firearm, while he was being held in police custody.

Brendan Harrison, whose life the State has confirmed in court is in danger, was applying for bail yesterday after being arrested last month for an alleged conspiracy to kill Krejcir.

The accused has however told the Germiston Magistrate’s Court that he was out of the country when the alleged plan was put together.

Reports this week were that Harrison was being held under maximum security at Boksburg prison.

Harrison was a manager at Krejcir’s Bedfordview firm, a gold exchange shop called Moneypoint. In his bail affidavit he says he took the job after being approached by a former associate of Krejcir’s, Michael Arsiotis.

Arsiotis, a Cypriot, is understood to also be accused of being a part of the alleged plot, but Weekend Argus sister title The Saturday Star has learn he is no longer in South Africa.

The affidavit indicated that Harrison met Krejcir in 2009 while employed at the Harbour Fish Market restaurant at Bedford Centre. Arsiotis approached Harrison in 2011 with an offer for the position of general manager at Moneypoint, which he accepted.

But in August last year, four men, who he identified as a Jason Domingo, “Ronnie”, and two Congolese, entered the store and threatened Arsiotis.

Arsiotis told Harrison to report the threats to the police, which he did, but then he received a phone call later from another of Krejcir’s associates, Ivan Sanhof, warning him that he’d “picked the wrong side”.

Harrison’s affidavit said he then had no more contact with Krejcir or any of his associates. He later decided to move to Swaziland, where he started his own business.

But it was on his return to South Africa on a business trip that he was stopped at the Oshoek border control post and arrested for a conspiracy to kill Krejcir.

Harrison said investigator Warrant Officer David Mothibi fetched him from the Harte- beesthoek court to return him to Gauteng. He charged that he threatened that if he didn’t cooperate, he’d “make my life difficult”, and oppose any future bail applications.

The accused was eventually brought to the Bedfordview police station, but was set to be transferred to Germiston for his court case.

On his way from the station, he said, Mothibi took a phone call, saying in English that he would not be able to meet the person on the other side of the line at the Bedfordview police station – but rather on the way to Germiston.

On passing the street where Krejcir lives, Mothibi had remarked: “There is your boss’s house.”

Harrison said the police vehicle came to a standstill at a Pick n Pay while en route to Germiston. Krejcir and “Ronnie” pulled up behind them in their own car.

Mothibi allegedly unlocked the door for Krejcir and Ronnie to enter the police car.

Krejcir allegedly pulled out a gun, and began questioning Harrison about missing gold and diamonds, and the whereabouts of Arsiotis. He then asked why Harrison had want- ed to kill him.

During the interrogation Krejcir allegedly turned to Mothibi and said: “See, I did not hurt or bruise him, your job will not be in jeopardy.”

Krejcir left the car, leaving Harrison unharmed.

Harrison’s lawyer, Jack Gerber, called his client’s sister Heather Rush to the stand to show that, should Harrison receive bail, he would be able to stay with her.

It was during during crossexamination, however, that prosecutor Thabo Motlhamme told the court that Harrison’s life was in danger, and that this threat could extend to his sister were he to stay with her.

Gerber also argued that Harrison, who arrived in court wearing an eye patch, had an infection that could result in the loss of his eye if he did not receive treatment soon.

Harrison was denied bail, but it is understood that his sister will push for an appeal on the bail judgment.

Krejcir told Saturday Star that the claims that he had threatened Harrison were “total nonsense”.

The case returns to court at the end of next month.