THE man who faked his own death about 20 years ago to escape from his creditors pleaded guilty on Thursday to four charges.

Gandaruban Subramaniam, 60, unemployed, conspired with his younger brother, Moganaruban, and wife Renuga Devi Sinnaduray to cheat two insurance companies of a total of $299,127 in 1989.

The insurers paid out the claims on his life insurance policies after being duped into believing he had died two years earlier in Sri Lanka.

The other two charges proceeded were for instigating Renuga to give false evidence to a Commissioner of Oaths that he had died without leaving a will; and lying in his embarkation card at Changi Airport in February last year.

Three other charges were taken taken into consideration.

His lawyer, Mr Subhas Anandan, will give his mitigation on Friday.

Gandaruban and his wife have since divorced. They have four children, but only the youngest, a 12-year-old boy, is with the mother.

Moganaruban, 57, a former prominent businessman and vice-president of Ceylon Sports Club, had claimed trial in 2004 to the insurance fraud. He was convicted and jailed 16 months but on appeal, the High Court increased it by another 10 months.

Renuga, 51, who was called as a prosecution witness in both Moganaruban's trial as well as her ex-husband's case on Wednesday, had served a year for her role in the scam.