Fugitive billionaire back in Johannesburg police custody

A Czech-born fugitive billionaire, for whom a search warrant has been issued in South Africa, is back in police custody. Radovan Krejcir is wanted in the Czech Republic on several charges including extensive fraud and conspiracy to murder. In 2005, he managed to escape to the Seychelles. The Czech authorities have since been unsuccessful at negotiating an extradition agreement because Mr Krejcir had bought Seychelles citizenship before his escape.

Travelling under a false identity, Mr Krejcir was detained at Johannesburg airport in April but his lawyers managed to negotiate his release under false pretences last week. A Johannesburg police spokesperson says Mr Krejcir is now back in custody. While earlier reports claimed Mr Krejcir had given himself up to the police, new reports say he was arrested in his lawyers' office which is located right next to a Johannesburg district police station. The Czech authorities sent an official request for his extradition to the South African authorities on Monday.