ritish arrested after five years 'dead'

A Briton accused of faking his own death so that his wife could collect the insurance was arrested in Australia.

 Hugo Jose Sanchez, also known as Alfredo, 47, faces extradition to the United Kingdom with regard to the alleged fraud.

Sanchez was found in Sydney on Wednesday, five years after British police began to investigate. 

Sanchez states that he faked his own death to secure the payment of U.S. $ 1.5 million.

His wife, Sophia, 43, was in charge of telling their employers that Sanchez had died on holiday in South America and had been cremated.

Sanchez's wife, Sophie, is serving a sentence of two years for fraud in the United Kingdom.

"Case prolonged" 

The authorities became suspicious when Sanchez's fingerprints were found, it says, in his death certificate.

Sanchez worked as a designer of online for HMV, a British firm that sells all kinds of audiovisual materials.

 His wife was arrested, and sentenced last year after returning to the UK.

Thames Valley Police announced that Sanchez would request the extradition to Britain. 

Detective Jacqui Bartlett, of the Economic Crime Unit, said: "I trust that this is the last step in what has been a prolonged case."

Airport Arrest

Sanchez was arrested at a home in the city of Sydney.

It is anticipated that the extradition process could take anywhere from several months to years, depending on whether Sanchez exercises its right to appeal. 

A spokeswoman for the Federal Police of Australia said that Sanchez had appeared in court on Thursday to stand trial for defrauding an insurance company.

Sofia Sanchez's wife, and mother of four children, who is serving a sentence of two years after admitting fraud, was arrested at Heathrow airport in September last year, he returned to the UK for a family commitment .

 On October 27, was ordered to pay $ 230,000 to HMV, after a hearing in court.

Via:bbc