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Desiree Liebenberg denied bail in ‘diamond scam’ case, will spend Christmas behind bars

Desiree Liebenberg denied bail in ‘diamond scam’ case, will spend Christmas behind bars
Vincent Cruywagen
By Vincent Cruywagen
22 Nov 2024
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Desiree Liebenberg, the wife of alleged diamond fraudster Louis Liebenberg, will remain in prison for Christmas after she was denied bail on Thursday. Evidence has emerged that companies at the centre of the alleged diamond scam allegedly made payments to former SAPS, ANC, SARS and Department of Mineral Resources and Energy officials.

Desiree Liebenberg’s bail application was denied in the Bronkhorst Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, 21 November 2024. She will be back in court on 4 February 2025.

Desiree and Louis Liebenberg, along with seven others, are at the centre of an alleged R4-billion diamond Ponzi investor scheme.

Watch: Louis Liebenberg removed from court on Thursday

During her bail application last week, Desiree Liebenberg stated in an affidavit that she was not a flight risk.

However, her reasons were disregarded on Thursday. The court found that she was a flight risk, failed to demonstrate that it was in the interests of justice for her to be released, and failed to provide a fixed address where she would remain if released on bail.

Meanwhile, Louis Liebenberg’s bail application, which he stated at their last appearance would be filed once his wife’s was finalised, will be heard at the same court on Monday, 25 November.

Read more: In the name of God — understanding Louis Liebenberg’s grand diamond swindle

The couple was arrested on 22 October 2024 at the Benoni Country Club. Desiree Liebenberg is before the court on charges of racketeering and money laundering in terms of the Prevention of Organised Crime Act, as well as contravention of the Banks Act of 1990.

The State contends that seven other people also arrested are allegedly part of a diamond syndicate. Liebenberg’s company Tariomix, which traded as Forever Diamonds and Gold, has been under investigation by the Hawks since 2019.

The other seven facing charges are Louis Liebenberg’s former lawyer, Walter Niedinger (55); Tariomix co-director Magdalena Kleynhans (54); Louis Liebeneberg’s assistant, Nicolize van Heerden (58); his former office manager, Helena Schulenburg (59); Johannes Badenhorst (41) and Christell Badenhorst (42), former directors at companies run by Liebenberg; and former employee Adriaan Dewald Strydom (35).

The nine face 42 counts of fraud (alternatively theft), five counts of racketeering, six counts of money laundering and various statutory offences, including contraventions of the Companies Act.

The charges stem from allegations that Tariomix duped investors out of R4-billion. The seven other accused have all been released on bail. 

Though the decision to deny bail to Desiree Liebenberg comes as a victory for the State, it is of little consolation to close to 40,000 investors who lost millions in the alleged scam. 

One of the investors was a Vredendal farmer who died months ago. He invested R2.5-million and lost everything. His wife is struggling and he was on the verge of losing his home when he died.

Read more: Victims of Louis Liebenberg’s alleged R4bn diamond swindle ‘left penniless’, says ex-employee

Access to R200-million


According to the National Prosecuting Authority’s (NPA) Gauteng spokesperson Lumka Mahanjana, State prosecutor advocate Hana Conradie’s grounds in opposing Desiree Liebenberg’s bail application were that she was a flight risk and had access to R200-million that her spouse claimed to have hidden from authorities.

During the bail application, the prosecution made mention of videos posted on social media by Louis Liebenberg in which he claimed to have hidden R200-million from liquidators. 

Conradie also argued that Desiree Liebenberg did not take the court into its confidence by disclosing her bank statements, which she argued she could not access since she was in custody.

Joining the dots on how this alleged diamond scam operated, 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 Liebenberg and Kleynhans registered a company called Tariomix where they were both directors. Another company called Forever Zircon was registered in 2021. Both these companies were purportedly involved in buying and selling diamonds.”

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. Thousands of investors made payments into the platform amounting to about R4.5-billion.

“The accused utilised 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, Krugerrands and silver coins and pay for Liebenberg’s lavish wedding and honeymoon in Greece. Various immovable properties, including an office block, were purchased,” Mahanjana said.

Leaked report


Last week the court heard from Hawks’ Colonel Rudolf Bruwer, who is leading the probe into the alleged diamond scam, that Desiree Liebenberg allegedly paid more than R300,000 to an unnamed police official.

A leaked interim report into the insolvent Tariomix’s estate, which was produced by liquidators and which Daily Maverick has seen, confirmed that payments were allegedly made to a police officer. Prosecutors submitted the report to court while opposing Desiree Liebenberg’s bail application. 

The report is part of an inquiry held in September 2024. Several witnesses, including some of those implicated in the alleged scam, were subpoenaed.

Desiree Liebenberg was also questioned at the inquiry.

According to the testimony of one of the accused in the matter, Tariomix not only paid a police officer, but also South African Revenue Services (SARS) officials, former ANC officials and a family member of a Department of Mineral Resources and Energy (DMR) official. Proof of the payments was presented.

The report further indicates that Desiree Liebenberg, during her evidence, admitted payments were made.

Desiree Liebenberg was a director of 11 companies linked to the case, including Forever Zircon.

She claimed she was not aware of some of the companies’ work and when she was quizzed about payments allegedly made to police officers and former ANC politicians, she told the inquiry she simply made notes on Louis Liebenberg’s instructions.

“I didn’t give the cash, I made the notes Louis says. When he says I must make a note, I do it.”

The SAPS, ANC, SARS and DMRE officials alleged to have received payments from the Liebenbergs’ companies are likely to have to respond to the allegations once the trial begins. DM

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