Robbie Smith (67) who went by allias Chris Boshoff and his wife Alice Abigail Boschoff (59), are set to appear in the Knysna Magistrate’s Court on 9 November 2022, for faking the husband death in 1999.
The couple who resided in Benoni area at the time connived and faked Robbie Smith’s death.
He reportedly “died” in a motor vehicle accident in Vosloorus. Consequently an insurance claim was registered at Old Mutual insurance leading to a pay out of just over R1.7 million.
The couple quietly left Gauteng to KwaZulu-Natal after receiving the windfall. They eventually settled in the Western Cape, Knysna area also known as the Garden Route which is a tourist destination.
Around 2020, Old Mutual was tipped off about the possibility that they were scammed as Smith was apparently very much alive.
Following an internal probe a docket of fraud was registered in October 2020, and assigned to the Hawks ‘Serious Commercial Crime for investigation.
The team tirelessly traced the couple to a hideout in Knysna leading to their arrest on Tuesday, 8 November 2022 on a court order.
Upon searching their place, two unlicensed firearms were recovered.
A case of unlawful possession of firearms has now been included.
The couple will be transferred to a Gauteng court to face the initial charge of fraud in the next week.
