Michelle Bodzsar’s bail bid, over allegations she faked son’s cancer diagnosis to earn $60,000, stymied
She’s accused of scamming people with her son’s fake cancer diagnosis – but her freedom bid has been stymied by her own mother.
Police & Courts
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A bail bid by a woman accused of using her son and a fake cancer diagnosis to defraud $60,000 has been stymied - by her own mother.
On Monday, Michelle Bodzsar faced the Port Adelaide Magistrates Court from prison, where she has been held since her arrest late last year.
Magistrate Alison Adair said Ms Bodzsar had asked the court to bail her to her home address, but an inquiry report had deemed it “unavailable”.
Ms Bodzsar’s counsel, who appeared by phone, said her client was confused by that conclusion.
“I’ve been able to take very brief instructions from my client,” she said.
“It’s my understanding that the proposed address is my client’s home address, which is a rental property that is in her name.
“My client is unsure why her mother is unable to allow the address to be reviewed (by authorities) for home detention.”
Ms Bodzsar and her husband Ben Stephen Miller, both 44 of West Lakes, have yet to plead to one count each of committing an act likely to cause harm.
They are further charged with one count each of deception.
Prosecutors alleged that, between November 18 and December 12, the couple “engaged to represent” their child “had cancer”, and falsely raised $60,000 for purported treatment.
They further alleged the pair shaved their young son’s head and eyebrows and placed him into a wheelchair with bandages on his head to imitate radiotherapy treatment for cancer.
Social media posts seeking donations said they would appreciate people not using “the term cancer around” the boy who “knows he has a sick eye that will get better”.
In December, Mr Miller was released on home detention bail and banned from contacting Ms Bodzsar or their children.
On Monday, counsel for Ms Bodzsar asked the court to order a second bail inquiry report “to determine if the address is available”.
Police said they did not oppose the ordering of a report, but it remained their position Ms Bodzsar should not be released on bail under any conditions.
Ms Adair remanded Ms Bodzsar in custody pending a further bail hearing on Friday.