The woman was sentenced to 1 year and 6 months in prison. (representative picture)
An Italian woman has been jailed for faking 17 pregnancies to earn a small fortune in state benefits.according to subwayThe woman, Barbara Loele, 50, falsely claimed that she had had 12 miscarriages and given birth to five children in 24 years. She received a maternity leave benefit of around 110,000 euros (approximately Rs. 98 lakh) and also took considerable leave time due to the fake pregnancy. But prosecutors in her case said none of the children she gave birth to during her alleged pregnancy were registered with the state and were never seen by officials or anyone else.
according to exitMs. Loele’s alleged fraud stemmed from the theft of a birth certificate and other forged documents from a clinic in Rome.
Ms Loele claimed to have given birth to her latest child in December last year. However, police said the 50-year-old woman had been under surveillance for the past nine months and the entire pregnancy was fake. They also accused the 50-year-old of using pillows to make herself look pregnant and walking as if she was carrying the extra weight of her unborn child.
Ms Loehler’s partner, Davide Piccinato, admitted to police he was “completely” aware she was not pregnant. “Given the full confession of Davide Piccinato (Barbara’s partner), it is beyond dispute that they were involved in serious fraud to the detriment of public institutions,” the judge wrote in his verdict, according to local media. Clarins.
ALSO READ | Prince William announces plans to build homes for homeless people on his estate
The outlet added that the woman presented false medical documents to collect state benefits. The outlet reported that she and her partner “first deceived the Italian Health Assistance Agency (ASL), which confirmed the request to give up work early, and then submitted it to the National Institute for Social Prevention (INPS) for improper remuneration” .
Mr. Piccinato testified against Ms. Loehler in exchange for a lighter sentence, and he was also charged as her co-conspirator in the fraud. However, the woman still stood her ground, saying that she had given birth to five children and suffered multiple miscarriages.
Nonetheless, an Italian court charged Ms. Loele with fraud and sentenced her to one year and six months in prison.
