Louis Liebenberg. Picture: Facebook
LOUIS Liebenberg believes there are far more sinister motives behind his arrest last week.
Speaking to IOL from the Kgoši Mampuru ll Correctional Facility a day after his bail application was postponed, the well-known diamond dealer said he knew police were going to come after him and claimed he tried to meet with officers several times, however, they ignored him and his arrest was "just for show".
Liebenberg is accused of masterminding an elaborate diamond ponzi scheme in which investors were allegedly swindled out of billions of rand.
The 60-year-old, alongside his wife, Desiree, Magdelena Kleynhans, Johannes Badenhorst, Helena Schulenburg, Adriaan Strydom, Christelle Badenhorst, Nicolize van Heerden and Walter Niendinger face charges of fraud (alternatively theft), racketeering, money laundering and theft, as well as contravening statutory laws and the Companies Act. The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) has further charged Desiree with two counts of money laundering and corruption.
"Kleynhans is facing an additional charge of money laundering. More counts will be formulated and added at a later stage," said the NPA's Lumka Mahanjana.
According to Liebenberg, he had paid out money to those accusing him of swindling them.
He refuted claims that he was running a ponzi scheme. He went on to claim that on the day that he was arrested, he did not have illegal diamonds in his possession.
Liebenberg said he is being targeted by politicians, including the Minister of Correctional Services, Dr Pieter Groenewald.
He claimed that Groenewald has it out for him and he has seen prisoners being assaulted, in front of him, for talking to him.
He further claimed that Groenewald gave prison officials authority to “make his life a living hell” while he remains in custody.
The minister has since denied these claims, further challenging Liebenberg to identify the officials in question, which would facilitate a comprehensive investigation into the potential correlation with their cellphone numbers.
Liebenberg added that he was also being targeted for being a known funder of former president and current uMkhonto weSizwe (MK) Party leader Jacob Zuma.
“I have visited Nkandla and I have seen for myself that Zuma is a man of the people,” he said.
IOL previously reported that Liebenberg pledged to pay R500,000 of Zuma's private prosecution of advocate Billy Downer. He further reportedly gave Zuma around R10 million for the upkeep of his Nkandla homestead.
Liebenberg said he and Zuma shared the belief that wealth belongs to the people and this was another reason for him being a target.
Liebenberg has opted to not apply for bail at this stage. He and Desiree are due back in court on November 15, while their co-accused, who were granted bail, are due back in court next year.