The alleged diamond scammer’s wife has been denied bail this week, while husband, Louis Petrus Liebenberg is set to be in the docks for a formal bail application in the case related to a massive investment scam on November 25, 2024.
The 50-year-old Desiree Liebenberg was denied bail along with eight other accused.
Desiree is the wife of 60-year-old Louis Petrus Liebenberg, who also stands accused in the matter.
accused faces charges related to a massive investment scam and her bail application was denied after the state argued that she poses a significant flight risk.
According to National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) regional spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, the accused faces a series of charges including 42 counts of fraud, five counts of racketeering, six counts of money laundering, and various violations of the Companies Act.
The matter against the rest of the accused was postponed to February 4, 2025, for further investigations.
“Louis Petrus Liebenberg and his wife are further facing an additional charge of two counts of money laundering.
“The wife Desiree Liebenberg is facing an additional charge of corruption while Kleynhans is facing an additional charge of money laundering. More counts will be formulated and added at a later stage,” said Mahanjana.
Mahanjana said it is alleged that Louis Liebenberg registered 15 companies where his ex-girlfriend Kleynhans and the rest of the accused – who are either family members or have close relations – were directors.
“In 2020, Louis Petrus Liebenberg and Magdelena Petronella Kleynhans registered a company styled Tariomix where they were both directors.
Another company Forever Zircon was registered in 2021. Both these companies were purportedly involved in buying and selling diamonds.”
She said potential investors were lured through social media and radio interviews to invest in the buying and selling of diamonds and were also promised high returns over a short period using a cashless platform called AE Switch.
[BAIL DENIED] Desiree Liebenberg (50), the wife of Louis Petrus Liebenberg was denied bail by the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrates Court. She and 7 co-accused face 42 counts of fraud or theft, 5 counts of racketeering, 6 counts of money laundering, and Companies Act transgressions. pic.twitter.com/BIpTcEKQTm
— South African Criminal Justice System (@RSA_CJS) November 21, 2024
Mahanjana mentioned that thousands of investors made payments into the platform amounting to approximately R4.5 billion.
“The accused used the proceeds of the diamond investment scheme to purchase movable and immovable assets, including two mines, and various motor vehicles, with a Ford Bakkie, BMW 230i sport, Toyota Agya, Kruger rands and silver coins. It also paid for Liebenberg’s lavish wedding and honeymoon in Greece.
“Various immovable properties, including an office block, were purchased,” she said.
When some investors did not receive the promised payments, they became suspicious and reported the matter to the police, suspecting that they were defrauded.
“The investigation is conducted by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), together with the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC), Asset Forfeiture Unit (AFU), Price Waterhouse Coopers (PWC) and the NPA’s Organised Crime Unit.
“The multi-agency approach to the prosecutor-guided investigations yielded an important breakthrough in this syndicated commercial crime.”
She said in her bail affidavit the accused asked to be released on bail because she was not a flight risk, she joined the companies at a later stage and her properties are being vandalised.
“However, the state Advocate Hana Conradie opposed her release on bail because she is a flight risk, she has access to R200 million that her husband claims to have hidden away from authorities.
“Advocate Conradie argued that the accused failed to take the court into its confidence by disclosing her bank statements by claiming that she cannot access them since she is in custody.”
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