A Gauteng man has been charged with fraud after he allegedly faked his death, assumed a dead man’s identity and lived “a low-key” life” along the picturesque Garden Route, where he was found on Tuesday – 23 years later.

Robin Smith, 67, was arrested along with his wife, Alice Abigail Boschoff, 59.

According to the Hawks, Smith assumed the identity of his father-in-law, Chris Boshoff, who died many years ago.

Hawks spokesperson, Captain Lloyd Ramovha, said the couple lived in Kempton Park, Ekurhuleni at the time that they “connived and faked Smith’s death”.

“Consequently, an insurance claim was registered at Old Mutual insurance, leading to a payout of just over R1.7 million.”

They “quietly left Gauteng to [head to] KwaZulu-Natal after receiving the windfall.”

“They eventually settled in the Western Cape, [in] Knysna in the Garden Route, which is a tourist destination.”

Ramovha said Smith opened an auto repair shop and that his wife carried out the business’ administrative duties.

“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 fraud docket was registered in October 2020 and assigned to the Hawks’ Serious Commercial Crime team.

“The team tirelessly traced the couple to a hideout in Knysna, leading to their arrest on Tuesday. Upon searching their place, two unlicensed firearms were recovered. A case of unlawful possession of firearms has now been included.”

Ramovha could not say whether the couple had any children or whether their families knew Smith was still alive.

However, he said they lived a “very low-key life” since 1999.

They appeared in the Knysna Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday and are expected to be transferred to Gauteng.

News24