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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Louis Liebenberg and his wife, </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Desiree, are both in custody, while their seven co-accused are out on bail, suspected of being part of a diamond syndicate that allegedly defrauded investors out of R4-billion. They appeared briefly in court on Tuesday.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Liebenberg </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-11-28-diamond-scam-accused-louis-liebenberg-ditches-bail-bid/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">abandoned his bail</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in November 2024 he handled his own defence. But this time he had a lawyer to properly explain why he should be released on bail.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the centre of the allegations against Liebenberg is that he operated a R4-billion diamond Ponzi scheme. Liebenberg, referred to by the State as the ringleader of the scheme, and Desiree </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-10-23-louis-liebenberg-arrest-result-of-five-year-probe-into-major-diamond-fraud/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">were arrested</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at a Gauteng restaurant on the night of 22 October 2024 following a five-year probe.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other seven are Liebenberg’s former lawyer, Walter Niedinger (55); Tariomix co-director Magdalena Kleynhans (54); Liebenberg’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).</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2575652\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ED_537654.jpg\" alt=\"Louis Liebenberg\" width=\"1824\" height=\"1124\" /> <em>Louis Liebenberg defends himself during his bail application after his legal representative withdrew from the case in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrates’ Court on 25 November 2024. (Photo: Gallo Images / Beeld / Deaan Vivier)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The nine accused </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-10-24-victims-of-louis-liebenbergs-alleged-r4bn-diamond-swindle-left-penniless-says-ex-employee/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">face 42 counts</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 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.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The State’s case is that Liebenberg allegedly operated a syndicate that was involved in dealing with unpolished diamonds and fraud and 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.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-11-26-diamond-scam-accused-louis-liebenberg-mounts-own-defence/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It’s the Louis Liebenberg ‘reality’ show as alleged diamond scammer mounts his own defence</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liebenberg’s company, Tariomix, which traded as Forever Diamonds and Gold, has been under investigation by the Hawks since 2019.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During his failed bail bid Liebenberg unequivocally denied that he took R4.5-billion from investors, as claimed by the State. It is also his contention that the State isn’t sure of its own case and whether all these charges will stand up in court.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2575650\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ED_536344.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1794\" height=\"1150\" /> <em>Louis and Desiree Liebenberg in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrates’ Court on 21 November 2024. (Photo: Gallo Images / Beeld / Deaan Vivier)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>New bail bid</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On Tuesday, the matter was on the roll for feedback on the investigation. However, the State informed the court that arrangements had been made before the court went into session regarding the way forward in the case.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The State requested that the cases against all nine accused be postponed until 8 July 2025 for further investigations and to obtain a racketeering certificate from the National Director of Public Prosecutions.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liebenberg, however, is scheduled to return to court on Tuesday, 25 February to determine whether the defence is prepared to proceed with his bail application.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The prosecution also notified the court that preparations had been made with Liebenberg’s counsel for the continuation of bail on 2, 3 and 4 April 2025.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the defence, there have been difficulties in consulting with Liebenberg for a thorough preparation and to finalise the bail application. On 25 February the court will hear whether the defence had ample time to consult with Liebenberg and file a competent application. </span><b>DM</b>",
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"name": ": Louis Liebenberg and Dezzie Liebenberg appear at Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court on November 21, 2024 in Bronkhorstspruit, South Africa. Dezzie Liebenberg was denied bail, she had been waiting the outcome of her bail hearing since 15 November. (Photo: Gallo Images / Beeld / Deaan Vivier)",
"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Louis Liebenberg and his wife, </span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Desiree, are both in custody, while their seven co-accused are out on bail, suspected of being part of a diamond syndicate that allegedly defrauded investors out of R4-billion. They appeared briefly in court on Tuesday.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">When Liebenberg </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-11-28-diamond-scam-accused-louis-liebenberg-ditches-bail-bid/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">abandoned his bail</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> in November 2024 he handled his own defence. But this time he had a lawyer to properly explain why he should be released on bail.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">At the centre of the allegations against Liebenberg is that he operated a R4-billion diamond Ponzi scheme. Liebenberg, referred to by the State as the ringleader of the scheme, and Desiree </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-10-23-louis-liebenberg-arrest-result-of-five-year-probe-into-major-diamond-fraud/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">were arrested</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> at a Gauteng restaurant on the night of 22 October 2024 following a five-year probe.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other seven are Liebenberg’s former lawyer, Walter Niedinger (55); Tariomix co-director Magdalena Kleynhans (54); Liebenberg’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).</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2575652\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1824\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2575652\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ED_537654.jpg\" alt=\"Louis Liebenberg\" width=\"1824\" height=\"1124\" /> <em>Louis Liebenberg defends himself during his bail application after his legal representative withdrew from the case in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrates’ Court on 25 November 2024. (Photo: Gallo Images / Beeld / Deaan Vivier)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The nine accused </span><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-10-24-victims-of-louis-liebenbergs-alleged-r4bn-diamond-swindle-left-penniless-says-ex-employee/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">face 42 counts</span></a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> 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.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The State’s case is that Liebenberg allegedly operated a syndicate that was involved in dealing with unpolished diamonds and fraud and 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.</span>\r\n\r\n<b>Read more:</b> <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2024-11-26-diamond-scam-accused-louis-liebenberg-mounts-own-defence/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It’s the Louis Liebenberg ‘reality’ show as alleged diamond scammer mounts his own defence</span></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liebenberg’s company, Tariomix, which traded as Forever Diamonds and Gold, has been under investigation by the Hawks since 2019.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">During his failed bail bid Liebenberg unequivocally denied that he took R4.5-billion from investors, as claimed by the State. It is also his contention that the State isn’t sure of its own case and whether all these charges will stand up in court.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2575650\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"1794\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2575650\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/ED_536344.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"1794\" height=\"1150\" /> <em>Louis and Desiree Liebenberg in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrates’ Court on 21 November 2024. (Photo: Gallo Images / Beeld / Deaan Vivier)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>New bail bid</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">On Tuesday, the matter was on the roll for feedback on the investigation. However, the State informed the court that arrangements had been made before the court went into session regarding the way forward in the case.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The State requested that the cases against all nine accused be postponed until 8 July 2025 for further investigations and to obtain a racketeering certificate from the National Director of Public Prosecutions.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liebenberg, however, is scheduled to return to court on Tuesday, 25 February to determine whether the defence is prepared to proceed with his bail application.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The prosecution also notified the court that preparations had been made with Liebenberg’s counsel for the continuation of bail on 2, 3 and 4 April 2025.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">According to the defence, there have been difficulties in consulting with Liebenberg for a thorough preparation and to finalise the bail application. On 25 February the court will hear whether the defence had ample time to consult with Liebenberg and file a competent application. </span><b>DM</b>",
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Louis Liebenberg defends himself during his bail application after his legal representative withdrew from the case in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrates’ Court on 25 November 2024. (Photo: Gallo Images / Beeld / Deaan Vivier)
Louis and Desiree Liebenberg in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrates’ Court on 21 November 2024. (Photo: Gallo Images / Beeld / Deaan Vivier)