By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg and his wife, Desiree have been remanded in custody again after their bail application was remanded.
They appeared in court along with their co-accused; Magdelena Petronella Kleynhans, Johannes Petrus Badenhorst, Helena Dorothea Amy Schulenburg, Adriaan Dewald Strydom, Christelle Badenhorst, Nicolize van Heerden and Walter Niendinger at the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrates Court on Thursday.
The accused face 42 counts of fraud, five counts of racketeering, six counts of money laundering, theft and various statutory offences, including contraventions of the Companies Act. Liebenberg and Desiree also face additional charges of money laundering.
During the proceedings, Liebenberg tried to argue that his constitutional rights were being infringed, as he had the right to have his bail application heard within seven days.
Acknowledging the accused’s frustration, Magistrate explained that there was little he could do to change the situation. He also told Liebenberg that, while he agrees that a bail application by its nature is an urgent matter, the seven-day rule is applicable when an accused person makes their first court appearance.
This leaves the couple as the only two of nine accused still behind bars following the arrest of nine suspects on more than 50 counts of fraud and money laundering relating to an alleged R4 billion diamond scam.
The rest of the bail applications were heard on Thursday. All four applications were granted.
Last week, Liebenberg abandoned his bail application while three other accused, Kleynhans, Schulenburg, and Niendinger, were released on bail.
Today, four more accused were granted unopposed bail. Badenhorst, was granted R15,000 bail, Strydom, R20,000 and Christelle Badenhorst, and Van Heerden, were each granted R5,000 bail.
Earlier on Thursday, Liebenberg blew kisses to his wife from across the courtroom.
The pair sat next to each other in the dock while the date for their bail hearing was deliberated and later set for 15 November 2024.
The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said, Thursday’s proceedings was remanded for a formal bail application in respect of the two Liebenbergs while the matter against the rest of the accused was postponed to February next year for further investigation.