Life assurance fraud backfires as 'dead' wife is found

A Hurungwe man has been sentenced to four months in prison after he defrauded a life assurance company of a US$1 500 funeral grant by falsely claiming that his wife had died.

He was arrested after he attempted to defraud the firm of more funds by claiming the "death" of his two-year-old

Augustus Chandafira (32) of Village 22 Nyajena, Makande, pleaded guilty to two counts of fraud when he appeared before Karoi magistrate Mr Robson Finsin last Thursday.

Mr Finsin suspended the sentence on condition he repays the US$1 500 by September 30 this year.

Prosecutor Mr Webster Dimingo told the court that on February 14 this year, Chandafira made a US$1 500 claim at First Mutual Life (FML) after filing a false report about the death of his wife, Sarah Ruvira.

He claimed she had died of natural causes on December 25 and was buried in Makande.

FML then deposited the grant into his bank account.

On June 18, he again approached the company, this time claiming his son, Kelvin, had also died of natural causes.

His plan was, however, thrown into disarray after FML decided to investigate the case.

On July 30, FML area manager Mr Sydwell Mudengezerwa visited the Chandafira home in Makande where Chandafira's "dead wife", Ms Ruvira, welcomed him.

Mr Mudengezerwa was also shocked when he saw the "dead" Kelvin playing with other children in the yard.

For the first count, Mr Finsin fined Chandafira US$400 with an alternative of four months in prison. In addition, another four-month jail sentence was suspended on condition he repays FML US$1 500 through the Clerk of Court on or before September 30 this year.

For count two, Chandafira was sentenced to eight months' imprisonment, which was wholly suspended on condition he does not commit a similar offence within the next five years.

By end of business last Friday, Chandafira was still in prison after failing to raise the fine.

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