A couple from Adelaide have been charged after allegedly faking their son’s cancer in order to raise $60,000.
Michelle Bodzsar and her husband Ben Stephen Miller allegedly claimed their six-year-old had stage one eye cancer, setting up a crowd-funding page and pleading for donations for their son’s treatment.
Bodzsar, a hairdresser, allegedly asked a colleague to help shave her son’s hair and eyebrows off.
She also allegedly bandaged his legs and placed him in a wheelchair.
Police allege that the couple, who are both 44, raised $60,000 in a short space of time with friends, family and parents at their son’s private school donating generously to the cause.
Police allege that the boy was not being treated for cancer and the couple were arrested on Friday morning.
Late on Friday the couple appeared before Port Adelaide Magistrates Court charged with one count each of committing an act likely to cause harm, and one count each of deception.
Police allege the offenses occurred between November 18 and December 12 this year.
Documents submitted to the court allege the couple “engaged to represent” the child “had cancer, knowing that engaging in such acts was likely to cause harm” to him or were “recklessly indifferent as to whether such harm was caused.”
The charge carries a maximum of seven years in prison if they are found guilty.
Bodzsar was remanded in custody until January.
Her husband’s lawyer requested he be considered for home detention at his parents’ address.
Magistrate Alison Adair said she was prepared to consider Miller’s application.
“Having read the allegations, it appears that this defendant is less involved than the other defendant in this offending,” she said.
Miller has been remanded in custody pending a home detention bail inquiry report next week.
Speaking about the allegations on Friday Acting Assistant Commissioner John DeCandia said: “I couldn’t think of a more devious or cruel scheme that the parents have done to their own child.”
