Five people are expected to appear in the Port Elizabeth Magistrates' Court on Friday for allegedly defrauding four prominent insurance companies with fraudulent death claims.
Lieutenant Colonel Philani Nkwalase of the Hawks says the suspects aged between 43 and 60 include a doctor, insurance broker, the owner of a local funeral parlour and an employee, as well as a former police officer.
He says it is alleged, that this syndicate signed up about seven insurance policies with different companies between 2014 and 2015.
When the waiting period lapsed, they forwarded death claims ranging from R10 000 to R50 000.
The alleged fraudulent activities were uncovered by the forensic audit investigator assigned by one of the prominent insurance companies.
Lieutenant Colonel Nkwalase says the investigator became suspicious when he could not find the grave of an alleged deceased person.
He says the "deceased" person was a former police reservist, who was still alive.
A case of fraud was reported to the Hawks for further investigation which uncovered more fraudulent claims where the syndicate members alternated as beneficiaries and deceased persons.
Lieutenant Colonel Nkwalase says three of their alleged accomplices are still at large and one suspect has since passed away.
The suspects are facing multiple charges of fraud, theft and defeating the ends of justice.
