A couple has appeared in court after being accused of falsely portraying their six-year-old son as a cancer victim to allegedly deceive generous Australians out of more than $60,000.
Ben Miller and Michelle Bodzsar, both 44, were charged with criminal negligence and deception on Friday and appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court.
Police allege the couple, from Adelaide’s western suburbs, raised $60,000 between November 18 and December 12 after falsely claiming their six-year-old son had “stage one eye cancer”.
Lawyers representing Ms. Bodzsar and Mr. Miller said they “strongly contested” the allegations, the court reported. Adelaide Advertiser.
South African police documents, seen by the newspaper, alleged that the couple “undertook to represent” the boy “had cancer, knowing that engaging in such acts would likely cause him harm” or were “recklessly indifferent as to whether such damage was caused.” .
It is understood this allegedly involved shaving her son’s hair and eyebrows before wrapping his head in bandages.
Police documents further allege that the couple deceived another person to benefit $3,000 or more.
Ben Miller and Michelle Bodzsar (pictured), both 44, were charged with criminal negligence and deception on Friday and appeared in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court.
Police allege the couple, 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: fundraising page funds).
But in court Friday, the police prosecutor said that was only a small fraction of the alleged crime.
“We have reason to believe that the amount (involved) is around $60,000,” the police prosecutor told the court.
“The safety of the complainant (child) is paramount… it is likely that he believes he has cancer, which will have caused him psychological harm.”
The pair 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 prison.
The couple were refused bail and Mr Miller’s case was adjourned until December 20.
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”.
‘The young man (child’s name), 6 years old, was diagnosed with eye cancer. “It’s stage 1,” the fundraising page said.
Lawyers representing Ms Bodzsar and Mr Miller (pictured together) said they “strongly contest” the allegations.
Acting Deputy Commissioner John DeCandia said his “investigation confirmed that the child is not seeking medical treatment.”
“We believe this (supposedly) hoax illness is causing significant and serious psychological harm to the boy and his brother,” he added.
Both the boy and his sister, who is between six and 12 years old, have been separated from their parents’ care and are living with a relative.