An Italian woman is facing a prison sentence after being found to have faked pregnancies 17 times over 24 years. According to reports, the Italian woman had 12 miscarriages and falsely claimed she had given birth to five children. She reportedly did all this in order to take time off from her job and receive maternity benefits given to her by her country.
Barbara Ioele, 50, made a small fortune by collecting state benefits, Metro newspaper reported, citing local newspaper La Repubblica. The prosecutor in her case shared that none of her children she gave birth to during her alleged pregnancy were registered with the state. Nor were they ever seen by authorities.
The newspaper said Ioele’s partner, Davide Pizzinato, 55, told police he was “well aware” that she was not pregnant.
“Given the full confession of Davide Pizzinato (Barbara’s partner), there is no doubt that they participated in the crime of aggravated fraud to the detriment of a public institution,” the judge wrote in her ruling. Local media outlet Clarin reported.
The newspaper added that the woman presented false medical documents to collect state benefits, according to La Repubblica. Ioele and his partner Pizzinato “first deceived Italian Aid to Health (ASL), which confirmed the requirement for early absence, and then submitted it to the National Institute for Prevention and Social Affairs (INPS) in order to obtain unfair compensation,” Clarin quoted the newspaper as saying. reported. .
Pizzinato testified for a lighter sentence against Ioele and was charged as an accomplice in the fraud, Metro reported. However, Ioele maintains her stance that she has given birth to five children and suffered several miscarriages.
Ioele was charged with fraud and sentenced to 18 months in prison, Clarín newspaper reported, citing La Repubblica newspaper.