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State wields Hawks affidavit in ‘strong’ case against diamond scam co-accused Desiree Liebenberg — here’s what it says

State wields Hawks affidavit in ‘strong’ case against diamond scam co-accused Desiree Liebenberg — here’s what it says
Potential investors was placed on a WhatsApp group that enable them to transact in the diamond parcels that were allegedly advertised by diamond scammer Louis Liebenberg. The initial advertisement depicted pictures of unpolished diamonds with the details of the parcel. The advertisement specified the parcel number, carat weight the buying and selling price of the diamond parcels, what their expected profit will amount to and the expected payout date.(Screenshot)
Vincent Cruywagen
By Vincent Cruywagen
17 Nov 2024
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The bail application of Desiree Liebenberg, a co-accused in a R4billion diamond Ponzi investor scheme allegedly led by her husband, Louis, will continue on Thursday this week.

The State has made shocking claims in opposing the bail application of alleged diamond scammer Louis Liebenberg’s wife, Desiree, including that she allegedly paid more than R300,000 to an unnamed police official. 

This, the State claims, demonstrates the likelihood that she will commit corruption if released on bail.

Desiree Liebenberg’s bail application was heard in the Bronkhorst Magistrates’ Court on Friday. 

Louis Liebenberg will petition for bail once his wife’s processes are complete.

The couple were arrested on 22 October 2024 at the Benoni Country Club. She is before court on charges of racketeering, 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, known as Forever Diamonds and Gold, has been under investigation by the Hawks since 2019. 

Liebenberg Louis and Desiree Liebenberg in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrates’ Court on 31 October 2024, facing charges of fraud, money laundering, theft and racketeering. (Photo: Gallo Images / Beeld / Deaan Vivier)



The nine accused 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, which traded as Forever Diamonds and Gold, duped investors out of R4-billion. The Hawks’ investigation of the case began in 2019.

At the time of their arrest, the Hawks state, the syndicate was allegedly involved in dealing in unpolished diamonds and fraud. The mastermind/leader allegedly advertised unpolished diamonds on social media and invited potential investors to invest in his alleged diamond-dealing business, with the promise of a lucrative return, which never materialised.

Read more: “Louis Liebenberg arrest the result of five-year probe into major diamond fraud”

So far, the following people have been released on bail:

  • Nicolize van Heerden on R5,000;

  • Christell Badenhorst (R5,000) and her husband Johannes (R15,000);

  • Adriaan Dewald Strydom (R20,000);

  • Liebenberg’s former lawyer, Walter Niedinger (R100,000); and

  • Tariomix co-director Magdalena Kleynhans and Liebenberg’s former office manager Helena Schulenburg (59) (R20,000 each).


On Friday, Liebenberg’s legal representative read her affidavit into the record, saying his client will plead not guilty to the charges she faces and denies all allegations against her.

State case against her


The State’s arguments in opposing bail were based on an affidavit compiled by the Hawks’ Colonel Rudolf Bruwer, who is leading the probe into the alleged diamond scam.

According to Bruwer, Project Dune was registered on 24 November 2019 after numerous complaints had been received from the public and investors relating to a diamond investment scheme.

Potential investors were placed on a WhatsApp group that enable them to transact in the diamond parcels that were allegedly advertised by diamond scammer Louis Liebenberg. (Screenshot)



(Screenshot)



“I’m in possession of a statement wherein a witness states that Liebenberg’s wife allegedly handed R300,000 to an unknown police official. This confirms that she is likely to commit corruption if she is released on bail.

“The State has a strong case against her, supported by a substantial amount of documentary evidence that highlights her involvement in this complex criminal enterprise,” his affidavit reads.

He further states that she married Louis Liebenberg, the alleged ringleader of an enterprise created by him and his co-accused, on 15 October 2022.

“Louis Liebenberg created and administered a Ponzi scheme by using several social media platforms to advertise that he is [in] the business of buying and selling diamonds.

“According to information against Liebenberg and his wife they were only separated from each other for approximately two days since they got married, therefore she has knowledge of his activities.”

His affidavit also touched on threats that Louis Liebenberg allegedly made on social media platforms in her presence. According to the investigating officer, people currently working for the couple fear that if they say anything that does not find favour with the pair, they will be harmed.

In audio footage, the court heard Liebenberg saying, among other things: ‘Ek gaan begin skiet, assault them, stone them, do what is necessary to remove them, this war.

“If I make a phone call 200 men will show up with the most dangerous firearms you have ever seen in your life, the 26s, 27s and 28s prison gangs will arrive with one word from me.”

Since Desiree Liebenberg’s arrest 19 new potential witnesses have contacted the investigating team, saying they are no longer afraid and are willing to make statements. The team is gathering these statements which might lead to more charges against her.

Although she indicated an address where she could reside once released, the court heard that the investigating team had obtained a statement from the owner of the property that he had given them notice to vacate the premises on 6 December 2024.

Furthermore, on 23 October 2024, the team found that another address and alternative rental contract for her had been cancelled, that her deposit had been refunded and that she must vacate the premises before 30 November 2024.

Without a fixed address and having access to a database containing particulars of all the investors, the State contends that she remains a high flight risk and is likely to interfere with witnesses.

Potential investors were placed on a WhatsApp group that enabled them to transact in the diamond parcels that were allegedly advertised by diamond scammer Louis Liebenberg. The initial advertisement depicted pictures of unpolished diamonds with the details of the parcel. The advertisement specified the parcel number, carat weight the buying and selling price of the diamond parcels, what their expected profit will amount to and the expected payout date.(Screenshot)



(Screenshot)


Alleged Ponzi scheme


In his affidavit the investigation officer referred to the alleged scam that Liebenberg and his co-accused operated as the diamond investment or Ponzi scheme.

“The diamond investment scheme was promoted on social media platforms by the worldwide web, Facebook and WhatsApp. The diamond investment scheme was initially conducted from a house from Liebenberg and Magdalena Kleynhans at 24 Meerkat Street, Bronkhorstspruit. Liebenberg and Kleynhans use an entity with the name Forever Diamonds and Gold whilst promoting the investments.

“Forever Diamonds and Gold was never registered with the CIP. Members of the public were invited, solicited or induced by Liebenberg and Kleynhans to invest or partake in a joint venture agreement with Tariomix,” Bruwer claims.

He added that Liebenberg and Kleynhans were the directors of Tariomix and investors locally and abroad were promised high dividends or returns in a short time. Tariomix was willing to contribute capital equal to 50% of investments.

According to the affidavit, once their contracts had been returned the potential investors were placed on a WhatsApp group that enabled them to transact in the diamond parcels that were advertised. Images of these parcels were initially advertised on WhatsApp groups and subsequently on a web page created by a service provider for investors. 

“The initial advertisement depicted pictures of unpolished diamonds with the details of the parcel. The advertisement specified the parcel number, carat weight, the buying and selling price of the diamond parcels, what their expected profit will amount to and the expected payout date of the profit which would be shared between investors. The percentage profit to be made on the parcels were between 30% and 180%,” the investigating officer said.

Bruwer further stated that during May 2021 Tariomix started using an online cashless solution system called All Encompassing Switching System (AE Switch) to facilitate payments from the investors into the alleged diamond scheme.

During August 2021 another company, Forever Zircon, also started to use AE Switch. It too was allegedly soliciting investors in an illegal diamond investment scheme.

Tariomix and Forever Zircon, according to Bruwer, were thus used as vehicles to advertise diamond parcels for investments. The two companies acted as the receivers of investments and payors of monies to investors and other companies

The numbers behind the scam


The court also heard that PricewaterhouseCoopers was asked on 21 April 2022 to prepare a forensic investigation into Tariomix and Forever Zircon.

It report dated 10 September 2024 revealed inter alia:

  • The number of investors registered on AE Switch who invested in both Tariomix and Forever Zircon: 39,878;

  • Total number of diamond parcels advertised for investment: 3,041;

  • Total number of carats advertised: 11,358.33; and

  • The amount supposed to be repaid to investors: More than R9-billion.


Desiree Liebenberg’s bail application was postponed to Thursday, 21 November. DM

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