More than two decades since Robbie Smith (67), who has been living under the alias of Chris Boshoff, and his wife allegedly faked his death in Benoni, the couple has been apprehended.

According to Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (Hawks) spokesperson Captain Lloyd Ramovha, the crime was committed in 1999 while the couple resided in Benoni, Ekurhuleni, on the East Rand.

“He reportedly ‘died’ from a motor vehicle accident in Vosloorus. Consequently an insurance claim was registered at Old Mutual insurance leading to a payout of just over R1.7m,” Ramovha confirmed.

After receiving the payout the couple quietly left Gauteng to live in KZN, after which they eventually settled in Knysna where they have owned and operated a few businesses over the years.

Smith and his wife adopted the aliases of Chris Boshoff and Alice Abigail Boshoff. However, two years ago things started to change for the couple.

“Around 2020, Old Mutual was tipped off about the possibility that they were scammed as Smith was apparently very much alive,” Ramovha said.

“Following an internal probe a docket of fraud was registered in October 2020, and assigned to the Hawks Serious Commercial Crime Unit for investigation. The team traced the couple to a hideout in Knysna, leading to their arrest on Tuesday on a court order.”

During a search of their residence, two allegedly unlicensed firearms were recovered, leading to a case of unlawful possession of a firearm also being added to their rap sheet.

After their court appearance today, the couple will be transferred to a Gauteng court to face the initial charge of fraud in the coming week.

*This article has been amended on November 15.