An Adelaide couple have been arrested after allegedly faking the cancer diagnosis of their six-year-old child in a “cruel” money-making endeavour.
The western suburbs couple allegedly shaved their child’s head and eyebrows and placed them in a wheelchair with bandages to mimic the side-effects of stereotactic radiotherapy treatment.
The couple, who are both aged 44, then set up a GoFundMe, police alleged, and also raised money through the child’s private school and word-of-mouth, totalling around $60,000.
The weeks-long alleged cancer ruse was first reported to South Australian police on November 26, who launched an investigation.
Acting Assistant Commissioner John DeCandia said that both the six-year-old and their sibling have been removed from their parents and placed with a relative as a short-term measure.
The parents are both now facing charges of criminal neglect and deceiving another to benefit self.
They have been refused police bail and will appear in the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court later today.
