"Kidnapped' Krejcir witness queried
A man claiming to have been kidnapped and assaulted by Czech fugitive Radovan Krejcir and five others is not telling the truth, a Johannesburg court heard on Thursday.
"We want to put it to you that you never complained to the police about being kidnapped, assaulted, and burnt with boiling water because it never happened," said Annelene van den Heever, for Krejcir.
She was cross-examining Bheki Lukhele in the High Court in Johannesburg sitting in Palm Ridge.
Van den Heever said the doctor who examined Lukhele had not made any notes about any bruising and injuries he could have suffered from being kicked and assaulted.
"Whatever marks or scarring you have, have nothing to do with any incident that happened on June 25 last year or around that period," she told Lukhele.
"Peeling of skin is not first degree burns. It could be third or second."
Lukhele has testified that the skin on the top of his head peeled off after Krejcir poured a kettle of boiling water over his head.
Van den Heever said her client would deny ever meeting Lukhele.
Krejcir, Desai Luphondo, warrant officers Samuel Maropeng and George Nthoroane, Jan Lefu Mofokeng, and Siboniso Miya have been charged for Lukhele's kidnapping, assault, and attempted murder.
Lukhele has testified that he was kidnapped in a bid to make him reveal the whereabouts of his brother, Doctor, who had disappeared with 25kg of tik, allegedly belonging to Krejcir.
Doctor had worked for a cargo company at OR Tambo International Airport and had been tasked with transporting the drugs to Australia.
Van den Heever said Krejcir would deny ever assaulting, ordering an assault, or kidnapping Lukhele.
"I don't agree with what is being said," Lukhele replied.
The soft-spoken Zulu man, who sat slumped in the dock, testified through an interpreter.
Van den Heever showed him a picture of Paul O'Sullivan who she claimed was widely reported as being the main investigator in the case.
Lukhele said he did not know the man in the picture, neither did he recall ever being interviewed by him.
Van den Heever accused the prosecution on Wednesday of keeping Lukhele's original medical documents from the defence.
The trial continues.
- Sapa