Durban - The Durban commercial crime unit has swooped on three suspects - including a teacher - alleged to have been involved in trying to swindle insurance companies out of a total of R15 million.
The claims were made in the wake of two separate murders.
Police said on Thursday that on March 1, 2013, a Mr Umesh Rabilal was shot dead by two men.
“Three days later, the deceased’s boss, who resides in Newcastle, lodged a R4m claim with an insurance company as sole beneficiary,” SAPS spokesman, Colonel Jay Naicker, said.
“An investigation discovered that on September 9, 2012, a man calling himself Umesh Rabilal made a call to the insurance company wanting to take out life cover to the value of R4m and make his boss beneficiary.”
The first two payments were paid that November.
“A voice comparison indicated that the owner of a security company and driving school in Newcastle had allegedly impersonated Rabilal and taken out the life cover.
A 56-year-old man was arrested and charged with fraud.
In another case, police arrested a 55-year-old teacher and her 24-year-old son after a body was discovered in cane fields with stab wounds.
A few days later, the teacher lodged claims with an insurance company to the total value of R11m.
The cover was taken out and two premiums paid before the body was found.
All three suspects were due to appear in the Durban Commercial Crime Court on Friday.
Daily News