Zuma’s contempt fight linked to Liebenberg funding
Louis Liebenberg allegedly used funds it is claimed he swindled from investors in his diamond investment ‘scam’ to foot the bill for a two-night stay for 20 at a plush Bloemfontein hotel in August 2022, reports News24.
He was in Bloemfontein to support his ‘friend’, former President Jacob Zuma, in a case before the SCA.
This is according to the draft charge sheet in the case against Liebenberg – a known Zuma benefactor.
Liebenberg and eight co-accused appeared in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate's Court on Thursday charged for R4bn graft. While the draft charge sheet did not make clear exactly who or what the accommodation was for, it apparently covered ‘the period 14 to 16 August 2022’.
And, on 15 August 2022, the SCA, based in Bloemfontein, heard Zuma's and the National Commissioner of Correctional Services' ultimately unsuccessful appeal against the setting aside of the decision to place the former President on medical parole after he was jailed for contempt.
It was also apparently paid for with money that was transferred out of a trade wallet, into which investors' money had been placed, and into a bank account held by a company, called Tarioco – to which Liebenberg has also been linked – using the reference ‘ABSA Bank Anta Boga Zuma’.
Liebenberg was also filmed outside the SCA on the day of the hearing in question, alongside a small group of protesters, holding up signs that read ‘Set Zuma free’ and ‘Ramaphosa must fall’.
A damning statement purportedly written by Liebenberg’s former head of security exposes intimate details of how high ranking politicians and government officials were allegedly lavished with cash, gold and diamonds during clandestine meetings with the alleged Ponzi king.
In most cases, the loot was kept in a backpack, ready to be distributed under the close eye of Liebenberg’s wife, Desiree.
Beneficiaries included a senior SARS official, a Zulu royal, Cabinet Ministers, senior department officials and politicians. The statement provides names, designations, dates and amounts paid.
The Sunday Times is not publishing the names as the allegations have not been verified.
Liebenberg and his wife, along with seven others, were arrested last week in connection with allegedly swindling investors out of about R4.5bn.
They face 42 counts of fraud, five of racketeering, six of money laundering and various other statutory offences, including contraventions of the Companies Act 71 of 2008.
Article disclaimer: While we have made every effort to ensure the accuracy of this article, it is not intended to provide final legal advice as facts and situations will differ from case to case, and therefore specific legal advice should be sought with a lawyer.
