A couple appeared in court on Tuesday facing allegations of deception. The woman, a mother of two, claimed during a report of her monthly income that she was alone and not receiving any financial assistance. Based on this false information, she continued to receive social welfare benefits, residential allowances, family allowances, and special rewards at the end of the year. However, investigations by the Family Allowances Fund (CAF) gathered evidence against the couple. Both defendants continued to argue in court that they were not together at the time of the crime. CAF’s lawyer, Master Riee Mee Ports, stated, “Deceiving in family assistance is an attack on our country’s social protection system, especially in these difficult economic conditions.”
The couple, who share parental responsibilities for two children, have been claiming to be married from 2016 to 2019. Additionally, the lawyer mentioned, “The woman claimed to be solely responsible for the children with no help from the father, while having no income herself.” Under this case, the couple could face a repayment order of approximately 42,000 euros for the fraud. The government lawyer has requested a six-month suspension with probation for both parents and proposed deprivation of financial aid rights for three years. He further stated, “This deception is an example of cunning to obtain benefits, as the shared life between the defendants never ended.”
Interestingly, during the investigation, CAF found pictures on Facebook showing the couple and their children vacationing in Spain and Brazil. The couple’s lawyer, Master Jodi Deboosh, argued in their defense, “They cannot understand why they are here today, as they have been repaying this loan for many years. They have never claimed to be living together.” It is worth noting that this case has been ongoing since 2018, with a request made by the police in 2024. The court is expected to announce its decision in the coming days.
