Inquiry Fingers Czech Fugitive As Part Of A Money-broking Network
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| Radovan Krejcir |
Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir can expect a tax bill of around R100 million after an SA Revenue Service (Sars) inquiry found he was part of a money-broking network that included some of the country’s most notorious mobsters.
Krejcir, who survived a bizarre “assassination” attempt this week, was the focus of a three-year Sars investigation and a confidential secret tax inquiry into his wealth.
Sars has, according to sources, valued Krejcir’s wealth in South Africa at around R130 million and he is now waiting for his tax bill, which will be close to R100 million, including interest and penalties.
City Press understands Krecjir has pleaded poverty, claiming his wife supported him financially.
No assets have been registered in his name.
But Sars discovered the existence of Groep Twee Beleggings, a company registered in the name of his wife Katerina Krejcirova.
Groep Twee Beleggings was established in April 2006 when Krejcir was still living in the Seychelles, on the run from Czech police for a host of crimes.
Groep Twee became the conduit Krejcir used to set up a money-exchange scheme that counted murdered sleaze boss Lolly Jackson among its participants.
The name of convicted druglord Glenn Agliotti also features.
Before he came to South Africa in 2007, Krecjir amassed a fortune in overseas bank accounts. Jackson, meanwhile, wanted to shift his money abroad without alerting the taxman or the Reserve Bank.
So he “lent” money to Groep Twee. Krejcir, using his foreign bank accounts, repaid him in euros or dollars in countries such as Greece.
On paper, say sources, it appeared as though Groep Twee was deeply indebted to Jackson and others, although it was nothing but a scheme to evade tax and launder money.
Details of the money ring – known universally as a Hawala (the Arabic word for transfer) – emerged in the high court last October when Sars applied for Agliotti’s provisional sequestration.
In court papers, Sars said Agliotti and Groep Twee entered into loan agreements and signed acknowledgements of debt.
Agliotti confirmed this week that he was a witness against Krejcir in his “massive” section 74 hearing.
He said he only once borrowed money from Groep Twee – R400 000, which he had repaid.
Groep Twee also “borrowed” money from Krejcir’s mother, Nadezda Krejcirova, to create the impression it was in debt.
Sars believes this was simply a scam to hide his fortune and illustrate his “poverty”.
Sars has investigated Jackson, Agliotti and now Krejcir.
Agliotti was hit with a R77 million tax bill while Sars wants R100 million from Jackson’s estate.
Jackson was murdered in May 2010, allegedly by hit man George Louca who will be extradited to South Africa from Cyprus to stand trial.
Shortly before his death, Jackson was approached to give evidence against Krejcir as part of an investigation into a money laundering scheme.
Jackson’s murder was followed by that of Cape Town underworld figure Cyril Beeka, who had close links to Krejcir.
The existence of the ring emerged from a claim of over R12 million, which Krejcir’s mother and a Czech-registered company, DKR Invest Praha Spolsro, instituted against Jackson’s estate.
In an affidavit filed in Johannesburg’s South Gauteng High Court, Krejcirova referred to an acknowledgement of debt, which Jackson allegedly signed in April 2010, five days before his murder.
But forensic investigator Kim Marriott said the acknowledgements were created as part of a “sham transaction” in the event the Reserve Bank learnt of Krejcir and Jackson’s cash dealings.
Jackson’s widow, Demi, said the Teazers boss used forged documents to “cover up”
questionable financial transactions and any alleged involvement with Krejcir in money laundering.
City Press tried to speak to Krejcir on Friday, but he said he was busy with police following the failed attempt on his life on Wednesday.
He didn’t respond to later messages.
A handmade, remote-controlled, 12-barrel weapon, hidden behind the licence plate of a Volkswagen, fired at Krejcir as he parked his bulletproof Mercedes in front of his gold and diamond exchange pawn shop in Bedfordview, Johannesburg.
Sars spokesperson Adrian Lackay said the agency could not comment on Krejcir’s tax affairs as they, by law, had to maintain all taxpayers’ confidentiality.
How did he get here?
In 2007, a broad-shouldered man with thinning hair carrying a passport in the name of Egbert Jules Savy boarded a plane in the Seychelles.
Minutes after landing at OR Tambo International, Savy was arrested on an Interpol red notice and was identified as businessman Radovan Krejcir, one of the Czech Republic’s most wanted men.
Authorities there said Krejcir was part of a crime ring and had fled to the Seychelles to avoid charges of conspiracy to murder, fraud, extortion and abduction.
The Czech government, assisted by the National Prosecuting Authority, then brought what should have been a fairly routine extradition application. But Krejcir told the Kempton Park Magistrates’ Court he was tortured and falsely accused of crimes in a smear campaign orchestrated by his government.
Six years on, Krejcir has avoided extradition and is now awaiting the outcome of his political asylum application.
He has been convicted in absentia in the Czech Republic on charges of fraud and sentenced to 11 years in jail.
Since he arrived in South Africa, Krejcir has allegedly entrenched himself in the local underworld.
He was named as a suspect in five high-profile murders but has never been charged.
He was accused of insurance fraud of R4.5 million, but these charges have been provisionally withdrawn.
He has also been accused of robbing a Pretoria electronics shop of hundreds of thousands of rand, but those charges were also withdrawn.
In a 2011 raid on Krejcir’s Joburg home, the Hawks unit said it recovered a hit list containing the names of a state prosecutor, his former doctor and alleged health insurance fraud partner, and his nemesis, forensic investigator Paul O’Sullivan.
O’Sullivan said: “We don’t need him or his type here as we have enough of our own, home-grown thugs.
“It’s a sad reflection of all that is wrong with our criminal justice system when transnational criminals think they can buy immunity like this.”
http://www.citypress.co.za/news/krejcirs-r100m-tax-bill/
Jacques Pauw @City_Press 28 July 2013 14:01
Banla you should publish articel that Seselwa can debate on it like racism,brain drain,Houreau the mian escobar on the island walk free ect....PP was saying we are racsit now Seselwa are seeing foreigners in their country being racist.i hope you publish a articel soon about racism been promote by Pp&foreigners.
ReplyDeleteI'm not telling you guys that you are not doing a good jobs,but we need to debate on problems that are happening in our country every day under Pp if we want to see change.Krejcir is not the main problems Krejcir we can look afterward in his welfare mafia dont get to far.
Thank you!
My friend
ReplyDeleteSFP has been ringing the alarm bell on those issues as far as a can recall.You probably remember SFp being challenged in Pp Kangaroo court when its started raising those risks PP crooked policies could created.Today,around the country we must recognize that the people of Seychelles is confirming those risks ,even stanch stooges like RAM and Pierre are generating discontent by the crooked polcies of the regime they love to death.
It fact we should praise SFp leadership for its being the whistle- blower for so long.I think now that the people has become more pro-active on those issues ,including fake Oppostion leaders and even PP ilk like St Ange was forced to go public to parrot on "Seychellois must get access to their public beaches etc..in itself speak for itself.
Of course all issues must be rpeaptedly raises becuase of PP stubborness but i think there are also over issues that need to be taken in to consideration too thus such as Krejic case for remember the Krejic was or probably still a good firend of fraud to PP who you must be recalled was gifted our birthright by Pp for a handful pieces of silver.The criminal charge aganist him is important to follow for there is the possiblity that unveil secret could come out in this realting to mafiosic practices he conducted together with PP thugs.
You could then imagine,on those issues you raise SFP as the leading fighter on the frontline for Seychelles POu Seselwa would not give up on such issues of concern but i also think now that the whole country has come to realize the risks SFp warned them about ,it is right that SFp let PP hoisted in his own petard to recognize its mess and take the right steps to fix it.
The racist case of the aFRICA FOOTBALLeR being called an APE is unacceptable and legal actions should be taken against the culprit. while recognizing also that this case seem to be an isolated one.
It is ture though that the polcies of sell out,land eviction,dipossession,enslavement that Pp thufgs have been conducting for the last 40 years have fermented the rise of a racism in our society.This is not about the colour of the skins ,for Seychellois historically and genrically ,due to its mixed roots are not racists ,but it is about a people having a sense that they are loosing their country and being domonated by foreingers thus loosing their identity,dignty,and sovereignty.
You could imagine in a small village like Cote D' Or on Praslin or La Digue ,the inhabitants seeing overnight thier village teemed with Expats workers that out numbered them ,taking their jobs thus creating a social and economic disfranchisement.
Seeing foreigners raping their rule of law and even making their own laws such as illegally blocking thier public beaches,destroying their environment,Chinese neo-colonilist dancing in their lving room and disrepecting them and so on ....make the anger of our people understandable.
What can Pp do to fix its mess and avoid the risks of conflicts is to reduce ERxpats,represt rule of law and put it into pratice,revoke all passports and land illegally gifted to foreigners,give the people back thier land by democraticing our society,and that immediately.If not the people would need to react for allowing the trend of Dispossion or New SEsel as the Butcher call it ,is very dangerous.
Jeanne D'Arc
SFP exposes every thing. Snp sum cover it up. PDM sucks it up.
ReplyDeleteSFP address issues that concern Seychelles. Too many problems to discuss in one day.
ReplyDeleteBeing too long in a position makes people too comfortable and complacent, thus the possibility for many things to take place such as risks of corruption among others,” said the President.
ReplyDeleteAsshole, incompetent, illiterate James Michel, this quote applies to you only. Get out loser you are an incompetent idiot. You are a disgrace to Seychellois. You are the reason I am ashame of my nationality. Do us a favour, tie a rock around your neck and jump into the ocean.
Did SFP receive any copies of the electoral reform and will SFP fight for sEselwa oversea for their right to vote?
ReplyDelete