Dad Stole 44k Charity Cash For Son With Rare Illness

Story ByMichael Leidig, Sub EditorJoseph GolderAgencyCentral European News

A dad who lied about being poor in order to raise cash for his sick son has been ordered to repay the money after a court heard he spent all of the money on himself and none on the boy.

The case was brought before the Chaoyang District People’s Court in China’s capital Beijing, by the crowdfunding project Shuidichou who said that the accused father, identified as Mo Chunyi, had wasted the money on other things.

He had contacted Shuidichou in April of last year when his then 7-month-old son was diagnosed as suffering from a rare chromosome disease known as Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome

Picture Credit: AsiaWire

He said he wanted to raise 400,000 RMB (44,000 GBP) and the 28-year-old who said he was bankrupt and had already met run up debts of 200,000 RMB (22,000 GBP) was able to attract 153,136 RMB (17,100 GBP) in just 30 hours.

But the appeal was put on hold when people contacted the online platform to say that he owned a valuable Street property which was capable of generating considerable income. They however let him withdraw the money he had raised when he told them that the property belonged to his father and said in addition that his wife was unemployed as well.

The boy eventually died in July, and five days after that his wife then contacted the website again and confirm that her husband had lied about their financial situation and furthermore alleged that none of the money which they had obtained been spent on treating their son.

Picture Credit: AsiaWire

After investigating in August the site asked the money to be returned, and sued him when he refused.

The court agreed that Mo had lied about his financial situation and also the other assistance he was receiving from welfare officials, and most importantly he had not used the money for what it was intended which constituted a breach of contract.

Picture Credit: AsiaWire

As a result he was ordered to pay all back plus a fine and interest.

The also said that the countries Ministry of Civil Affairs needed to do more to manage charitable endeavours and advised Shuidichou to introduce more transparency into the fundraising process.

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