South African Police Nab Alleged Mastermind of Metaverse Ponzi Scheme

Neil Leon De Waal, a key figure in the GS Partners metaverse fraud case, was reportedly arrested by South African law enforcement in late May. He was subsequently released on bail on June 3. Authorities began investigating De Waal following a complaint from one of his victims. The complainant, who lives in Benoni, had to hire a private investigator in Cape Town to track down De Waal. De Waal reportedly recruited a new GS Partners investor in May 2023. The exact timeline is murky, but De Waal’s arrest warrant was issued in December. He was arrested after disembarking from a flight in South Africa. His legal team claims he will prove his innocence.