Diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg and his wife, Dezzi, were arrested at a restaurant at the Benoni Country Club on October 22 at around 19:00.

Circumstances surrounding their presence in Benoni remain unclear.

According to Hawks spokesperson Colonel Philani Nkwalase, this is in connection with a syndicate allegedly involved in dealing in unpolished diamonds and fraud.

He said a prosecution-guided, multi-disciplinary operation led by the Northern Cape Hawks’ Serious Organised Crime Investigation Unit resulted in the arrest of the remaining ninth suspect this morning.

Nkwalase said the suspects were arrested in Gauteng and North West provinces, respectively, during an operation that began on October 22 and ended on the morning of October 23.

“The masterminds advertised unpolished diamonds on social media and invited potential investors to invest in his alleged diamond-dealing business, with a promise of a lucrative return that never materialised.”

The Liebenbergs are allegedly the masterminds behind the scam.

It is reported that investors have been scammed out of more than R4b since 2019.

“Investigations are still ongoing, and more arrests are imminent. The suspects are expected to appear in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court on October 24, on charges including, but not limited to, fraud, money laundering, theft and racketeering,” Nkwalase said.

The acting provincial head of of the DPCI, Major General Matroos, commended both the investigation and prosecution teams for bringing the syndicate to its knees.

“These successful integrated efforts by the security and justice entities are an indication that the long arm of the law eventually catches up with those acting outside the law, no matter how long it takes,” he said.

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