A couple have appeared in court after being accused of falsely portraying their six-year-old son as a cancer victim in order to allegedly dupe generous Aussies out of over $60,000.
Ben Miller and Michelle Bodzsar, both 44, were charged with criminal neglect and deception offences on Friday and appeared before Port Adelaide Magistrates Court.
Police allege the pair, from Adelaide’s western suburbs, raised $60,000 between November 18 an December 12 after falsely portraying their six-year-old son had ‘stage one eye cancer’.
Lawyers acting for Ms Bodzsar and Mr Miller said they ‘strongly contested’ the allegations, reported the Adelaide Advertiser.
SA Police documents, seen by the paper, alleged 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’.
It is understood this allegedly involved shaving their son’s hair and eyebrows before wrapping his head in bandages.
The police documents further allege the couple deceived another individual to benefit themselves to the value of $3,000 or more.
Ben Miller and Michelle Bodzsar (pictured), both 44, were charged with criminal neglect and deception offences on Friday and appeared before Port Adelaide Magistrates Court
Police allege the pair, from Adelaide ‘s western suburbs, raised $60,000 in two weeks for the six-year-old’s ongoing ‘cancer treatments’ before they were arrested (pictured: the fundraising page)
But in court on Friday the police prosecutor said that was only a small fraction of the alleged offending.
‘We have reason to believe the amount (involved) is around $60,000,’ the police prosecutor told the court.
‘The safety of the complainant (child) is paramount… it’s likely he might believe he has cancer, which will have caused him psychological damage.’
The couple were each charged with committing an act likely to cause harm, and one count each of deception, which carries a maximum sentence of seven years in jail.
The couple were refused bail, with Mr Miller’s case adjourned until December 20.
Ms Bodzsar will spend Christmas behind bars and will return to court on January 6.
An online fundraising post, seen by Daily Mail Australia, said the couple had suffered ‘every parent’s nightmare’.
‘Young (boy’s name), 6 years old was diagnosed with eye cancer. It is stage 1,’ the fundraising page said.
Lawyers acting for Ms Bodzsar and Mr Miller (pictured together) said they ‘strongly contested’ the allegations
Acting Assistant Commissioner John DeCandia said their ‘investigation confirmed the child is not seeking medical treatment’.
‘We believe this (allegedly) farce illness is causing significant and serious psychological harm to the child and their sibling,’ he added.
Both the boy and his sister, who is aged between six and 12-years-old, have been removed from their parents’ care and are living with a relative.
