Nine individuals, including Louis Petrus Liebenberg and his wife, Desiree, appeared in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrates Court on multiple serious charges related to an alleged diamond investment scam.
The accused face 42 counts of fraud, racketeering, money laundering, and violations of the Companies Act.
It is alleged that Liebenberg, along with his co-accused—many of whom are family or close associates—used companies like Tariomix and Forever Zircon, which were purportedly involved in the diamond trade, to attract investors.
Through social media and radio interviews, they promised high returns, accumulating approximately R4.5 billion from investors.
The funds were allegedly used to purchase assets such as mines, vehicles, and properties, and even finance Liebenberg’s lavish wedding and honeymoon in Greece.
Some investors, suspicious after not receiving their promised payments, reported the matter to the authorities.
The investigation, led by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (DPCI), in collaboration with multiple agencies, has been pivotal in uncovering this syndicate.
While some of the accused were granted bail, including Magdalena Petronella Kleynhans and Helena Dorothea Amy Schulenburg, others await a formal bail hearing set for October 31, 2024.
