WATCH | Diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg refuses to call magistrate ‘Your Worship’

by Staff Bona

Notorious diamond dealer Louis Liebenberg’s bail application at the Bronkhorstspruit Magistrate’s Court in Johannesburg was halted on Wednesday after he had a heated exchange with the magistrate and was referred for medical observation.

Liebenberg, his wife, and several co-accused face over R4 billion in fraud-related charges, including fraud, racketeering, theft, and money laundering.

During the hearing, Liebenberg accused the court, the magistrate, and the minister of correctional services of bias and misconduct.

He claimed he was being bullied by the state, prison authorities, police, liquidators, media, and others.

He also alleged he was abused in prison, complained about unsanitary conditions, and claimed severe weight loss and health issues.

Liebenberg refused to proceed with the application, citing bias by the magistrate, and declined to address her as “Your Worship,” arguing it conflicted with his religious beliefs.

“The Bible says clearly that I cannot worship anybody except God. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

We got this thing from Your Worship and Your Honour from England. It doesn’t mean that I don’t have respect. I have a problem with calling someone Your Worship.

“Where does it come from? We are in Africa with potholes and falling apart,” he said.

Liebenberg, held at the Kgosi Mampuru Correctional Centre’s C-Max prison, complained about dire conditions, claiming rats bigger than cats ran over inmates at night.

He said he had lost 42kg, dropping from 130kg to 88kg, and could barely walk 50 metres.

The magistrate eventually stopped the proceedings and sent him for a doctor’s check-up to assess his fitness to continue with the case.

Compiled by Betha Madhomu

First Published: African Insider

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