Louis Liebenberg and co-suspect back in court

The remainder of the bail applications are expected to be heard in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.

Notorious diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg and his wife Dezzi and seven others will go on trial Thursday on 42 charges of fraud, theft, extortion and money laundering.

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

The scam was carried out under Liebenberg’s company Tariomix, better known by the trade name Forever Diamonds and Gold (FDG).

A week ago, bail of R20,000 each was granted to Ronelle Kleynhans, co-director of Liebenberg’s company Tariomix, and Helena Schulenberg, a former office manager. Walter Niedinger, Liebenberg’s former lawyer, was released on R100,000 bail.

The remainder of the bail applications are expected to be heard in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court on Thursday.