KEY POINTS:
A close friend and business partner of the Auckland man who faked his own death has joined calls for him to be named.
The Christchurch colleague wants money he says he is owed, but nothing more to do with the 42-year-old fraudster, who has admitted abandoning his wife and children by faking his own suicide 5 1/2 years ago.
The man's family claimed more than $1.12 million in life insurance, while he set up a new life under a new identity in Christchurch.
He was found out in January when he applied for a passport under his real name, and now faces a jail term after pleading guilty to fraud charges.
Despite his admission, the man's identity is protected by court orders. His angry former wife wants him unmasked, and the business partner agrees he should be publicly shamed.
"I think the public need to know that people like that are out there and can't get away with it," he told the Herald.
"This man deserves no special treatment. What he did was wrong and he should be held responsible for his actions instead of running away from them, as he seems to have a habit of doing."
The business partner trusted the man, took him into his home, and introduced him to people after his arrival in Christchurch. He was shocked to learn of his secret double life.
"He phoned me [on Wednesday] wanting to have a talk about money he owes me ... but I sent him a bill and I told him I don't want anything to do with him.
"When he rang me it was like he was a long-lost friend ... he just wanted to talk, there was no apology or anything."
He hopes the sentence given to the man in July will send a strong message to anyone thinking of doing something similar.
The faker's ex-wife said this week she considered his deception "child abuse", and that he should serve a year in jail for every year he had been out of his children's lives.
Having his identity known would be hard on her and her children, "but otherwise he is just going to keep getting away with everything".
The Herald is considering challenging suppression orders in place in the case.
