Alleged diamond scheme kingpin Liebenberg wants shift from C-Max to awaiting trial section

JOHANNESBURG - Alleged diamond scheme kingpin Louis Liebenberg wants to be moved from a maximum-security prison to a normal awaiting trial section.

Liebenberg appeared in the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrates Court, where he faces fraud, money laundering and racketeering.

Liebenberg, the MK Party’s major investor and friend of former president Jacob Zuma, is applying for bail but could not make his case on Wednesday.

He is accused of running a botched diamond investment scheme where he siphoned R4 billion from investors.

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Liebenberg’s lawyers have told the Magistrates Court in Bronkhorstspruit that they cannot proceed with their bail application on Wednesday.

They claim that they have not been able to consult with him while he is being held at C-Max.

"There is no privacy at C-Max, some of the guards are sitting two meters from us, all the documentation must be handed in through a guard which peruse the documentation."

Liebenberg’s lawyers say they plan to approach the court with an application for him to be moved from C-Max but have not told the court when they intend to do so.

They’ve also agreed to proceed with bail in July, but it's unclear if the alleged fraudster’s imprisonment will be changed by then.