A man from Gauteng has been charged with fraud after allegedly faking his death, assuming a deceased man’s identity, and living a “low-key life” along the Garden Route, where he was discovered on Tuesday, 23 years later.
According to News24, 67-year-old Robin Smith was detained alongside his 59-year-old wife, Alice Abigail Boschoff.
Smith took the name of his deceased father-in-law, Chris Boshoff.
Captain Ramovha, a spokesperson for the Hawks, stated that the pair resided in Boksburg, Ekurhuleni at the time they “planned and faked Smith’s death.”
“Therefore, an insurance claim was filed with Old Mutual insurance, resulting in a settlement of just over R1.7 million,” Ramovha explained.
They “quietly left Gauteng for KwaZulu-Natal after collecting the unexpected windfall.”
Ramovha stated that Smith founded an auto repair firm and that his wife handled administrative responsibilities.
Old Mutual was alerted around the year 2020 that they may have been defrauded, as Smith was reportedly still alive.
In October 2020, following an internal investigation, a fraud docket was registered and sent to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime division.
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He stated, “The team tracked down the pair to a hideout in Knysna, resulting in their arrest on Tuesday. Upon examining their residence, two unlicensed firearms were seized, and a charge of illegal possession of firearms has been added.”
Ramovha stated that Smith founded an auto repair firm and that his wife handled administrative responsibilities.
Old Mutual was alerted around the year 2020 that they may have been defrauded, as Smith was reportedly still alive.
In October 2020, following an internal investigation, a fraud docket was registered and sent to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime division.
He stated, “The team tracked down the pair to a hideout in Knysna, resulting in their arrest on Tuesday. Upon examining their residence, two unlicensed firearms were seized, and a charge of illegal possession of firearms has been added.”
