‘The heart of a father is the masterpiece of nature’ French author, Abbé Prévost once said. After all, fathers make the unsung sacrifices to give their children a happy and healthy life.

Well, that’s what usually comes to our minds when we talk about our fathers. But a recent case from Brazil presents that this may not always be true.

2-year-old Joao Miguel was suffering from type 1 spinal muscular atrophy. He desperately needed a medication called Spinraza costing £65,301 (Rs. 59.7 lakh) for a single dose in order to prevent the disease from advancing.

His father Mateus Henrique Leroy Alves raised money for his treatment with the help of online crowdfunding. He had collected £114,060 (Rs1.4 crore approx.) for his treatment through the donations, reports The Sun. Jaoa was however given his first dose of Spinraza in August.

But later, his 37-year-old father was arrested by the cops under suspicion of spending the donation money on holidays and personal use. He allegedly used the donation cash for a luxury trip and traveled to the city of Salvador in Brazil without his wife from his home in Conselheiro Lafaiete.

His wife, Karine Rodrigues got suspicious about her husband’s activities when the information he gave about the trip did not add up. When police asked Karine to check the donation amount, she discovered that a large amount of money was missing from the raised funds.

Alves was arrested while he was on his third luxury vacation. Reports suggest that Alves splurged significant amounts of donation money on watches, designer clothing, drinks, drugs, and expensive aftershave.

He had allegedly “invested” £9,495 (Rs. 8.6 Lakh) in a brothel in Conselheiro Lafaiete, reports Mirror.

Investigator Daniel Gomes said, “Alves has been charged with larceny and material neglect of his family. He remains in detention. There has already been a hearing. The sentence is scheduled to be released next month.”

After his father’s arrest, the government had offered to sponsor Joao’s treatment. But sadly, the child who suffered from a severe degenerative disease died of a heart attack last week after his condition worsened.

It’s heartbreaking to see that a father’s neglect has cost a child his life. We hope the man is brought to justice soon!

Courtesy: Storypick.com

Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.



Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.

Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.

Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.

An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.

The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.

A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.

Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."

"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.

"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.

A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.