- A couple in Australia have been accused of faking their young son’s cancer diagnosis
- “It will be alleged that the accused shaved their 6-year-old child’s head, eyebrows, placed him in a wheelchair with bandages on his head in order to imitate stereotactic radiotherapy treatment,” South Australia Police’s Acting Assistant Commissions, John DeCandia, said in a news conference on Friday, Dec. 13
- “I couldn’t think of a more devious and cruel scheme that the parents have done to their own child,” the officer added of the alleged crimes
A couple in Australia have been accused of faking their 6-year-old son’s cancer diagnosis.
On Friday, Dec. 13, the woman and man, both 44, appeared at Port Adelaide Magistrates Court, where they were “each charged with one aggravated count of committing an act likely to cause harm, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail,” the Sydney Morning Heraldreported.
Separate attorneys for the accused, who haven’t been named by police, said both would be denying the charges, per the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC).
The news came after South Australia Police’s Acting Assistant Commissions, John DeCandia, held a news conference earlier on Friday, confirming two people had been arrested by the Western District Criminal Investigation Branch (CIB) on Thursday, Dec. 12 for criminal neglect and deception and that bail had been refused.
Per DeCandia, it’s been alleged that “the couple caused psychological harm to their child by falsely purporting a cancer diagnosis.”
A photo of Port Adelaide Magistrates Court.
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The officer alleged that the couple had been requesting monetary donations through a GoFundMe page and word of mouth, to fund their 6-year-old son’s medical treatment. DeCandia told reporters it’s believed they managed to raise around $60,000 AUD ($38,200 USD) in a “short period of time.”
“It will be alleged that the accused shaved their 6-year-old child’s head, eyebrows, placed him in a wheelchair with bandages on his head in order to imitate stereotactic radiotherapy treatment,” he explained.
“The investigation has confirmed that the child is not seeking any medical treatment. We believe this farce illness is causing serious and significant psychological harm to the child and their sibling,” the officer added.
DeCandia added that he believed the boy’s sibling is a girl in the 6-12 age group bracket, and said that the children have been removed from the custody of the parents, with a nominated relative caring for them at the moment.
He also stated that the incident had been reported to police on Nov. 26 and that the Western District Child and Family Investigation Section had been working with the Department of Child Protection, the child’s school and Child Protection Services amid the ongoing case.
“I couldn’t think of a more devious and cruel scheme that the parents have done to their own child,” he said of the alleged crimes.
“It’s abhorrent that people would seek to profit for their own personal greed and selfishness from such an insidious condition such as cancer that impacts so many families in our community,” DeCandia told reporters.
He said that there will be “ongoing support that will be needed for the child because initially thinking you’ve got cancer, and you’re not well, would be quite devastating.”
“It takes away from those in genuine need … it’s disgusting that these types of cases may have an impact on people that genuinely need that assistance,” the officer insisted during the conference.
During the couple’s court appearance on Friday, Magistrate Alison Adair said she’s “open to considering another bail application” in early 2025 and “ordered a home detention report for the mother” who is expected to return to court on Jan. 6, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The father also remains in custody, and Adair adjourned his case until Dec. 20, the outlet reported.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) “has decided not to proceed with the offense of criminal neglect,” which police had previously mentioned, according to the ABC.
