Durban - Five people implicated in a R1-million insurance fraud ploy that involved obtaining a body from a mortuary to begin a fake claim process, have had their case postponed.
Maningi Mkhize, Thulani Dube, Mlungisi Chiliza and Langelihle Motopa made a brief appearance at the Durban Commercial Crimes Court on Tuesday.
Thandi Ndlovu, the fifth accused failed to turn up in court.
They are charged with multiple counts of fraud, forgery and contraventions of the Human Tissue and Registration of Births and Deaths Acts.
They are alleged to have been involved in a fraud scam where Mkhize, of KwaMashu, allegedly coaxed a man to take out life insurance by phone in the name of Mondli Dube in July last year.
She was the sole beneficiary and paid the monthly premium of R319. She had allegedly been in possession of Dube’s identity document, which was later revealed to have been stolen in a car break-in.
The State alleges that after six months, Mkhize wanted to “cash in”, but needed a body to start the R1m claim process from an insurance company.
A funeral parlour owner, Chiliza, allegedly put her in touch with King Edward VIII Hospital mortuary employee, Ndlovu, whom police alleged confirmed the “availability” of the body of an unidentified car crash victim at a cost of R10 000.
Chiliza also allegedly persuaded his neighbour, Thulani Dube - as he had the same surname - to positively identify and claim the body, producing the stolen ID, and to have the body released for burial for a R200 000 share in the insurance amount.
After allegedly staging a funeral, the group were arrested last month, but were granted bail of R2 000 each.
They indicated to the court at their last appearance that they intended pleading guilty.
A warrant of arrest for Ndlovu was issued by the magistrate. Her lawyer, who has since withdrawn, told the court Ndlovu had a bereavement in the family which she needed to attend to.
The magistrate said she failed to provide proof of this, before revoking her bail.
Chiliza also indicated he had appointed a new attorney.
The matter was adjourned to April 17.
Daily News