Man charged with fraud after faking death
A man who faked his death over 20 years ago has been charged with fraud, having been found alive and well, living in Knysna.
Robin Smith, aged 67, faked his death in a car accident in Gauteng in 1999. His wife, Alice Abigail Boshoff, put in a life insurance claim with Old Mutual, and received a payout of R1.7 million.
The couple relocated to Knysna after having spent some time in KwaZulu-Natal.
Smith had allegedly been using the alias of Chris Boshoff, which had been his father-in-law’s name.
He had opened an auto repair business in the town, while his wife performed administrative duties.
Old Mutual received a tip-off in 2020 that Smith could still be alive. It began an investigation, with the Hawks subsequently becoming involved in the case. The couple have appeared in court in Knysna and will be transferred to Gauteng.
The case has echoes of the case of a British man, John Darwin, who faked his death in a canoeing accident in 2002, so as to claim his life insurance. He was found alive in Panama in 2007 and both he and his wife were sentenced to six years in prison for fraud.
[Image: Sam Williams from Pixabay]
