An Adelaide couple have been charged after alleged fraud To raise $60,000 for his son who has cancer.
Michelle Bodzser and her husband Ben Stephen Miller reportedly claimed their six-year-old son has stage one eye cancer, creating a crowd-funding page asking for donations for their son’s treatment.
Bodzsar, a hairdresser, reportedly asked a co-worker to help him cut his son’s hair and eyebrows.
He also allegedly bandaged her legs and made her sit on a wheelchair.
Police allege the couple, both aged 44, raised $60,000 in a short period of time through generous donations from friends, family and parents at their son’s private school.
Police allege that the boy was not being treated for cancer and the couple were arrested on Friday morning.
The couple appeared before the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court late on Friday, charged with one count each of committing acts likely to cause harm and one count of fraud.
Police allege the crimes took place between November 18 and December 12 this year.
Documents submitted to the court allege that the couple “engaged in representing that the child had cancer, knowing that there was a possibility of harm to him by engaging in such acts” or were “recklessly indifferent. Whether such damage was caused.”
If they are found guilty, the charge carries a maximum sentence of seven years in prison.
Bodzsar was remanded in custody until January.
Her husband’s lawyer requested that she be considered for home detention at her parents’ address.
Magistrate Alison Adair said she was prepared to consider Miller’s application.
“After reading the charges, it appears this defendant is less involved in this crime than other defendants,” he said.
Miller has been remanded in custody pending home detention bail investigation report next week.
Speaking about the allegations on Friday, Acting Assistant Commissioner John DeCandia said: “I can’t think of a more devious or cruel scheme than this for a parent to perpetrate on their own child.”
