A (*23*) couple has been arrested for allegedly submitting fake death insurance claim 23 years ago.
Robin Smith, 67, who glided by the alias Chris Boshoff, and his spouse Alice Abigail Boschoff, 59, are set to look within the Knysna Justice of the Peace’s courtroom on Wednesday for faking Smith’s death in 1999. They claimed R1,7m for his death which was paid out by Old Mutual earlier than they disappeared.
Hawks spokesperson Capt Lloyd Ramovha mentioned the couple lived in Benoni, Ekurhuleni, after they allegedly connived Smith’s death.
“He reportedly ‘died’ from a motorcar accident in Vosloorus. Consequently, an insurance claim was registered at Old Mutual resulting in a payout of simply over R1,7m,’’ mentioned Ramovha.
He mentioned the couple quietly fled (*23*) after they acquired the cash and settled in Knysna, Western Cape.
“The couple quietly left (*23*) after receiving the windfall. They finally settled in Knysna, an space often known as the Garden Route, which is a vacationer vacation spot. Around 2020, Old Mutual was tipped off concerning the chance that they had been scammed as Smith was apparently very a lot alive,’’ mentioned Ramovha.
He mentioned following an inner probe, a docket of fraud was registered in October 2020, and assigned to the Hawks’ severe business crime division for investigation.
“The workforce tirelessly traced the couple to a hideout in Knysna resulting in their arrest on Tuesday, November 8 2022, on a courtroom order. Upon looking their place, two unlicensed firearms had been recovered. A case of illegal possession of firearms has now been included,’’ mentioned Ramovha.
He mentioned the couple can be transferred to a (*23*) courtroom in order that they face their preliminary cost of fraud subsequent week.
