Alleged funeral insurance fraudster, Nkaqa (44) from Flagstaff has been released on R500 bail by the Mthatha Specialised Commercial Crime Court. This is subsequent to his arrest by the Mthatha based Hawk’s Serious Commercial Crime Investigation on August 18, 2022.
Nkaqa made a brief appearance in court today, August 19 and the matter has been remanded to October 5, 2022 for copies of the docket.
Hawks spokesperson Captain Yolisa Mgolodela said that it is alleged that between 2011 and 2015, Nkaqa fraudulently submitted funeral cover policy claim documents for seven people at Old Mutual Office in Lusikisiki using fraudulent birth certificates and identity documents. Mgolodela added that it is alleged that six of the people that Nkaqa covered in the policies were non-existing in the Department of Home Affairs population register.
“One of the people that he claimed for, is reported to still be alive and does not even know the suspect. When all the policies reached the waiting period, Nkaqa fraudulently submitted separate death claims using fictitious death certificate. Old Mutual paid out all the claims to the total value of R286 000 into the suspect’s personal account,” said Mgolodela.
He added that the number of the death claims submitted by the suspect raised suspicions at Old Mutual which necessitated a probe by their Forensic Investigation Department.
“The investigation subsequently uncovered the fraud committed by the suspect and the matter was referred to the Hawks for further probing.”
