Wife in court over funeral policy scam

AN UNDERTAKER’S wife has been arrested after she allegedly took out funeral policies on the lives of people to whom she pretended to be related.

On each occasion the men and women died – some just months later – causing Old Mutual Life Assurance to pay out thousands of rands, allegedly into Wendy van Willing’s personal bank account.

Van Willing of Van Willing Funeral Parlour in Uitenhage, allegedly took out eight funeral policies – worth a total R125 000 – with Old Mutual Life Assurance between February 2008 and April 2013.

She allegedly pretended to be related to the said people – all known to her – and undertook to pay the required monthly premiums.

She then informed Old Mutual of their deaths and allegedly lodged claims on their behalf.

She claimed she was responsible for the funeral costs, the prosecution said.

Van Willing appeared briefly in the Port Elizabeth Commercial Crimes Court yesterday on eight counts of fraud.

She was released on warning and her case postponed to October 10 for the defence to receive copies of the docket in preparation for trial.

State advocate Ulrike de Klerk said Van Willing had extensive experience in the insurance industry due to her involvement with her husband’s funeral parlour.

All lodged claims were honoured by Old Mutual, allegedly causing them to pay more than R107 000 into Van Willing’s Standard Bank account during the five-year period. —