Police say South Australia parents faked child’s cancer to claim donations

ABC NEWS (Australia)

An Adelaide couple accused of faking their child's cancer illness to raise tens of thousands of dollars in donations remain in custody. The mother and father are alleged to have altered the boy's appearance; to make it appear he had cancer.

Transcript

00:00A six-year-old boy bandaged up with his head shaved.

00:06Police say the mother and father, both aged 44 and from Adelaide's western suburbs, asked

00:12for donations to fund their son's ongoing medical bills.

00:16They allegedly raised about $60,000 from community members during a two-week period, but police

00:22allege the boy is not receiving any medical treatment.

00:26We are seeking anyone with any information in relation to the investigation or have made

00:30donations to the family to contact police.

00:33Before being charged, the boy's mother used social media to say it was unbearable to witness

00:38her son's plight.

00:39I cry when I look at you, I cry in my sleep, words can never describe this torment bestowed

00:45upon us.

00:46She added, I will take the pain away from you as much as I can so you do not have to

00:50feel it.

00:51I love you with all my heart, my precious angel.

00:54Police allege it was all a ruse.

00:57They say they became aware of the matter about two weeks ago.

01:00The boy and his sister have since been removed from their parents and are being cared for

01:05by a relative.

01:06There's been daily safety risk assessments undertaken to ensure the safety of the child.

01:12The man and woman appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates' Court today, charged with an

01:17aggravated count of acting likely to cause harm and a count of deception.

01:22They were both refused bail, with the father expected to return to court next week and

01:26the mother early next year.

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