Krejcir's R5m 'offer' for escape

CZECH fugitive Radovan Krejcir has allegedly made a multimillion-rand offer for anyone in South Africa's underworld who can help him escape from jail.

Police sources said yesterday that information obtained recently indicated that Krejcir was willing to pay R5-million for his freedom.

"The offer, which is in the millions, has been put out there. It is up for the taking from corrupt police and Correctional Services officials, and those operating in the criminal underworld," an officer close to the case said.

Asked about the alleged reward, police spokesman Lieutenant-General Solomon Makgale said: "Given the nature of the allegations Krejcir is facing and some of the criminal activities we believe he has been involved in, we can surmise that some of the people around him will try to ensure he never gets his day in court to account for the allegations against him."

The offer comes as investigators over the past few days rushed witnesses set to testify against Krejcir in his multiple court cases to safehouses around South Africa.

"We have put extraordinary measures in place to ensure that we protect everyone involved, in particular, our witnesses and surviving victims," Makgale said.

The latest developments come as Krejcir's alleged money-man, Luyubomir Borislavov Grigorov, known as "Mad Mike the Bulgarian", appeared in the Alexandria Magistrate's Court yesterday.

The 32-year-old Grigorov is believed to hold the key to the identities of those on Krejcir's payroll.

He is facing charges of the planned assassination of police crime intelligence officer Colonel Nkosana Ximba and private forensic investigator Paul O'Sullivan, and the murder of Krejcir's alleged debt collector, Phumlani Ncube.

Makgale said the puzzle was not yet complete. "There are many other people who are going to be arrested, including police officers." - Graeme Hosken