OVERVIEW | Liebenberg in court: Pieter Groenewald told prison heads to ‘make my life hell’

The notorious diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg and his wife, Dezzi, and seven others stand trial on 42 charges of fraud, theft, racketeering and money laundering on Thursday.

The rest of the accused are Walter Niedinger, Liebenberg’s former lawyer, Ronelle Kleynhans, co-director of his company Tariomix, Nicky van Heerden, his personal assistant, Dewald Strydom, a former employee, Helena Schulenburg, former office manager, as well as two other former directors of his companies, Hannes and Christelle Badenhorst.

Diamond investors were scammed of more than R4 billion since 2019, Hawks spokesperson Colonel Philani Nkwalase said in a statement.

The scam was operated under Liebenberg’s company Tariomix, better known by its trading name Forever Diamonds and Gold (FDG).

Bail of R20 000 each was granted a week ago to Kleynhans and Schulenberg. Niedinger was released on bail of R100 000.

The rest of the bail applications were heard on Thursday in the Magistrate’s Court in Bronkhorstspruit. All four applications were granted.

Watch the court proceedings here:

Here’s an overview of the proceedings:

Watch: Liebenberg shouts ‘viva MK’ in court

13:31 Bail to the amount of R5 000 is granted to Nicky van Heerden.

13:43 Bail to the amount of R 5 000 is granted to Cristelle Badenhorst, although the magistrate indicated that her case is worrisome. However, he decided to release her to be with her children. Hannes Badenhorst, her husband, is released on bail to the amount of R15 000.

14:00 Dewald Strydom is released on bail to the amount of R20 000.

Four charges added to indictment

14:55 Public Prosecutor Hanna Conradie, confirmed in court that four more charges are added to the indictment. The four charges added are one of theft and three of corruption. The charges of corruption are against Louis, Dezzi and Kleynhans.

Louis’ life ‘made hell’ in jail

15:05 Louis’ legal representative said in court that Louis’ wishes to place it on the record that he heard on the phone how Minister of Correctional Services Dr Pieter Groenewald told the heads of the Kgosi Mampuru prison “to make his life hell in prison”. His legal representative says he is allegedly also threatened with assault.

Case postponed

15:14 The case is postponed until 15 November.

Watch: More on the diamond investment scam

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