Insurance fraud case: Woman’s sisters testify she is alive

KARACHI: The Federal Investigation Agency is investigating the case in which two children declared their elderly mother dead to fraudulently claim Rs250 million insurance from a United States company.

According to the FIA, Fahad Saleem and Faria Saleem declared their mother Seema Saleem Karbay as dead and managed to secure a hefty claim of Rs25 million from an insurance company.

Seema Saleem’s two sisters appeared before the investigation agency and gave a statement that their sister was alive. In 2017, the woman’s son Fahad was also given a share in her property.

The bogus death certification was issued from Union Council No. 6 Shah Baig Lane in Lyari. The cause of death was declared as cardiac arrest and the receipt of a grave from Fisherman Moorna graveyard was also provided.

The death certificate was given by Mumtaz Ali while Lyari General Hospital medical officer Dr Hussain Akhtar supported him. Both have not appeared before the federal investigation agency despite being summoned and have reportedly escaped from their homes.

FIA Human Trafficking Cell is investigating the unusual case of insurance fraud in Karachi whereby a brother and sister declared their own mother dead to claim the amount.

In 2009, their mother had bought two insurance policies from an American insurance company. The children had submitted their mother’s death certificate on 8th June 2011. The incident came to light when their mother applied for a passport at the US consulate in 2013.

The US Consulate-General’s Assistant Regional Security had submitted a written request to the FIA. Even after her presumed ‘death’, the woman travelled with her son to ten different countries.

Fahad Saleem also set up two bank accounts in Karachi for the transfer of funds in Dhoraji and Jheel Park. The bank is expected to give the details to the FIA within a couple of days. The case investigation officer has submitted the FIR in court and the initial challan will be filed after two weeks.