According to SABC NEWS, suspected fraudster and diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg has dropped his bail application in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court.
Liebenberg had moved his bail application on Monday after his attorneys withdrew from the trial. Together with his wife, Desiree, and seven others, he faces multiple charges of fraud, theft, and corruption.
NOT ONLY DIAMONDS BUT INVESTMENT SCAMS TOO?
The couple and seven others involved are not only suspected in the abovementioned charges; their fraudulent case relates to another case in which they were involved in an alleged investment fraud that conned investors more than R4 billion.
According to the DailyMaverick, Liebenberg denied scamming money from investors.
“It is an absolute lie that we have taken R4.5 billion from people. We have delivered R4.6 billion and paid around R4.5 billion. We have mines, workers, buildings and assets, but the state accuses us of theft,” he said.
He added that after a five-year investigation regarding diamond fraud, the alleged fraudster couple was arrested at a Gauteng restaurant in October 2024. His company, Forever Diamonds and Gold has been under investigation by the Hawks for more than five years.
WHO ARE THE SEVEN OTHERS FACING CHARGES?
The other seven facing charges are:
Tariomix co-director, Magdalena Kleynhans (54)
Former Liebenberg’s lawyer, Walter Niedinger (55)
Liebenberg’s assistant, Nicolize van Heerden (58)
Former office manager, Helena Schulenburg (59)
Former directors at companies run by Liebenberg, Christell Badenhosrt (42) and Johannes Badenhorst (41). Lastly is former employee Adriaan Dewald Strydom (35).
In total, they face 42 counts of fraud, five counts of racketeering, six counts of money laundering, and various statutory offences. Liebenberg and his wife are the only ones still in jail, as the seven other accused were released on bail.
LIEBENBERG DITCHES BAIL APPLICATION BECAUSE OF ‘ILLNESS’
Liebenberg applied for his bail in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court on Monday. The Citizen reported that the case was expected to proceed on Thursday, 28 November 2024. On Thursday morning, Liebenberg pleaded to address the court for only 20 minutes, because he wanted to tell the court issues that he had failed to mention previously.
He admitted to the court that he and his wife took trips to Dubai, Mauritius, Venice, and Spain last year. He further stated that he did not tell the court that he and Dezzi’s landlords asked for their rental agreement to be dissolved, as their case was attracting high media attention.
Abandoning his bail application, Liebenberg said he had been sick for the past few days and still is.
He stated, “I would like to abandon my bail application at this stage, and we will revisit this with the requisition to court.”
The state requested that Liebenberg remain in custody until February 4, 2024. His case was postponed for further investigation.
Do you think that Liebenberg will succeed in his bail application next year?
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