Louis Liebenberg’s bail fund allegedly looted by security guard – report

Accused of fraud and money laundering, he previously stated that he received financial support from his partners.

Diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg allegedly lost his deposit savings.

The boisterous 60-year-old is scheduled to apply for bail on November 25 after insisting that his wife Desiree apply first in the hope that she will be released from custody.

Desiree was refused bail last week, on a day dominated by her husband’s outbursts and loud singing from his Bronkhorstspruit cell.

No money for bail

A non-profit organization (NPO) called Louis Cares was set up shortly after the arrest of diamond traders in the East Rand.

Supporters of the Liebenbergs contributed thousands of dollars to the fund, but the nonprofit’s director reportedly opened a theft case after R100,000 was withdrawn from the nonprofit’s bank account.

Emeka Mba blames Desiree’s former bodyguard Clarina Vorster, The Guardian reported. Sunday times.

Vorster denied any wrongdoing, saying the nonprofit had greater goals than just financing the potential release of the Liebenbergs.

“The main reason I got involved was the initial plan to help orphanages by making an effective impact on our youth who experience various forms of historical trauma,” Vorster said.

She added that the money was spent for purposes consistent with the nonprofit’s mission.

Bail was denied

Mba was a former employee of Liebenberg and, at Vorster’s request, became director of the nonprofit organization.

Vorster said she stopped receiving calls from Mba because she felt her phone was being monitored by people who believed she was holding valuables linked to the Liebenbergs.

Upon learning that the funds had been withdrawn from the nonprofit’s bank account, Mba reportedly withdrew the remaining R20,000 in cash.

Desiree will not need bail as her application was rejected by Bronkhorstspruit Magistrates’ Court on November 21.

“I’m not a beggar”

Shortly after his arrest, Louis stated that he would not resort to begging for financial assistance, insisting that his current support was sufficient.

He explained that all his accounts were frozen, but he counted on the help of his “partners”.

In early November, Liebenberg wrote a letter published on closed social media but noticed by him Citizen asking supporters to donate R5,000 to oppose the sequestration proposal.

He made this request to save a shipment of diamonds that arrived in Johannesburg in October but was confiscated after his arrest. He claimed that the diamonds were worth 40 million rupees.

The magistrate resigns

In an unexpected development, Justice Vusimuzi Mahlangu withdrew from the case in the interest of justice.

This was announced by the spokeswoman of the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA), Lumka Mahanjana Citizen another judge will be appointed on Friday.

Liebenberg, Desiree and seven others face trial on 42 counts of fraud, theft, racketeering and money laundering.

Additional reporting by Carien Grobler.

NOW READ: SEE: The judge in the Liebenberg case resigns, Louis disrupts the court proceedings