Krejcir: “Gangland” body count rises
Links to a Bedfordview “gangland”, as some have called it, have been reported since 2009.
A shady underworld linked to Bedfordview has reared its head again.
Links to a Bedfordview “gangland”, as some have called it, have been reported since 2009. In December of that year, Mr Kevin Trytsman, a private investigator, was shot at his attorney’s office.
His attorney, Mr George Michaelides, subsequently confessed to shooting Mr Trytsman but claimed it was in self-defence.
Around the same time, it was believed that Mr Trytsman had links to Bedfordview resident and Czech businessman, Mr Radovan Krejcir, as well as the then unknown Mr George Louca.
Just two months later in February 2010, German super car conversion specialist, Mr Uwe Gemballa, was kidnapped on arrival at OR Tambo International Airport.
According to reports, Mr Gemballa was set to meet businessman Mr Jerome Safi, to discuss opening a franchise of the Gemballa sports-car business.
The two never met and instead Mr Gemballa was allegedly taken to a house in First Avenue, Edenvale, where he was murdered.
His body was found outside Pretoria in October the same year.
National media reported that the house Mr Gemballa was taken to was rented by Mr Krejcir’s business manager, Mr Ivan Savov.
Mr Savov said he was out of the country at the time and has denied Mr Gemballa was killed at his home.
It was then reported that a link had been made between a cellular phone used to contact Mr Gemballa’s wife and pay-as-you-go vouchers purchased on behalf of Mr Michael Arsiotis, an associate of Mr Krejcir.
In May 2010, Bedfordview resident Mr Lolly Jackson, was murder in Kempton Park.
His death was linked to Mr Louca, a Cyprus-born fugitive who allegedly worked for Mr Krejcir.
Shortly after Mr Jackson’s murder, Mr Louca fled the country to his native Cyprus.
Mr Cyril Beeka was gunned down in Cape Town in March 2011.
It was reported that Mr Beeka initially served as Mr Krejcir’s security consultant, but later the two planned to go into business together.
Just two days after Mr Beeka’s murder, members of the Hawks raided Mr Krejcir’s house in Kloof Road, Bedfordview.
The then Hawks spokesperson, Mr McIntosh Polela, said a hit list was found in Mr Krejcir’s house which contained the names of, among others, Mr Beeka.
In September 2011, Mr Ian Jordaan, who was in charge of Mr Jackson’s estate, was kidnapped and murdered.
It is believed that before his death, Mr Jordaan was forced to transfer R1,8-million from a trust account containing money of Mr Jackson.
The money was allegedly placed into a separate trust account belonging to Mr Mark Andrews, a former business associate of Mr Jackson.
Mr Andrews was shot and killed roughly a week after the body of Mr Jordaan was found.
He was the main suspect in the murder of Mr Jordaan.
