A man face charges of fraud and murder after he allegedly took out life insurance policies using his victims’ identity numbers and killed one of the victims to cash in on the policies.

The man, who has been in custody for almost six years, was arrested in 2016. He recently appeared in the Benoni Magistrate’s Court.

According to police, in October 2012, the accused allegedly defrauded Hollard Insurance when he took out two life policies using the name of one of his victims, which would pay out R12 000 and R50 000 respectively if the victim died.

The names of the beneficiaries and residential addresses provided on this policy were unknown to the victim.

The suspect allegedly got hold of the victim’s identity number when he promised him employment.

In November 2012, the suspect allegedly tried to kill the victim by shooting him. A case was opened at the Etwatwa Police Station.

In April 2013, the accused allegedly took out three more life policies under a 52-year-old woman’s name for the benefit of R100 000, R200 000 and R21 000 respectively in the event of her death.

The victim’s ID was also accessed by the suspect when he promised her work. The suspect allegedly shot and killed the woman and a case was opened at Putfontein SAPS.

Trial in the matter is set to start in October.