Sick 2-year-old dies after dad allegedly spends ₹1.4 Cr raised for treatment on brothels & holidays
‘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!
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.
UDF leaders see local body poll trends as pointer to 2026 Assembly elections in Kerala
Thiruvananthapuram (PTI): Buoyed by the strong performance of the Congress-led UDF in the local body polls, KPCC president Sunny Joseph said on Saturday that the front's results indicated the people had rejected the LDF government.
According to early trends, the UDF was leading in more grama panchayats, block panchayats, municipalities and corporations than the LDF.
The local body polls were held in two phases in the state earlier this week.
ALSO READ: Cong candidate who moved Kerala HC for name reinstatement in voter list, wins
Speaking to reporters here, Joseph said the people of Kerala had extended their support to the UDF.
"We could expose the LDF government’s anti-people stance and the people understood it. The LDF’s fake propaganda was rejected by the people. The UDF is moving towards a historic victory," he said.
He said a united effort, proper preparations, good candidate selection and hard work had resulted in the Congress and the UDF’s victory in the elections.
Asked about the prospects in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, Joseph said the party was studying the matter and would comment later.
LDF convenor T P Ramakrishnan said the results would be closely examined.
According to him, the government had done everything possible for the people.
"Why such a verdict happened will be examined at the micro level. People’s opinion will be considered and further steps will be taken," he said.
He added that decisions would be taken after analysing the results. "If any corrective measures are required, we will initiate them and move forward," he said.
AICC leader K C Venugopal said the results showed that people had begun ousting those who, he alleged, were responsible for the loss of gold at Lord Ayyappa’s temple.
"This trend will continue in the Assembly elections as well. It is an indication that the people are ready to bring down the LDF government," he said.
Venugopal said the UDF had registered victories even in CPI(M) and LDF strongholds.
"I congratulate all UDF workers for their hard work. Congress workers and leaders worked unitedly," he said.
Referring to remarks made by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan against the Congress on polling day, Venugopal said the voters had responded through the verdict.
"I do not know whether the chief minister understands that the people are against him. Otherwise, he does not know the sentiment of the people. The state government cannot move an inch further," he said.
He said the results indicated a strong comeback for the UDF in Kerala.
Asked whether the Sabarimala gold loss issue had affected the LDF in the local polls, Venugopal said the CM and the CPI(M) state secretary did not take the issue seriously.
"We took a strong stand on the matter. The BJP played a foul game in it," he alleged.
On the BJP's role in the local body elections, Venugopal alleged that the party operated with the CPI(M) 's tacit support.
"The CPI(M) supported the central government on issues such as PM-SHRI, labour codes and corruption in national highway construction. The CPI(M) is facing ideological decline, and the state government’s policies are against the party’s own decisions," he said.
Meanwhile, LDF ally Kerala Congress (M) leader Jose K Mani said the party could not win all the wards it had expected in the elections.
He congratulated winners from all parties and said the party would closely examine the losses and identify shortcomings. "Later, we will take corrective measures," he added.
Senior Congress leader and MP Rajmohan Unnithan said the trends in the local body elections indicated that the UDF would return to power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
"We will win 111 seats as in 1977 and return to power in 2026. The anti-government sentiment of the people is reflected in the elections," he said.
Unnithan said the people were disturbed and unhappy with the present government.
"The trend indicates the end of the LDF government," he added.
CPI(M) MLA M M Mani said the people had shown ingratitude towards the LDF despite benefiting from welfare schemes.
"After receiving all welfare schemes and living comfortably, people voted against us due to some temporary sentiments. Is that not ingratitude," he asked.
Mani said no such welfare initiatives had taken place in Kerala earlier.
"People are receiving pensions and have enough to eat. Even after getting all this, they voted against us. This is what can be called ingratitude," he said.
Muslim League state president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal said the results were beyond expectations.
"The outcome points towards the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram, indicating that a change of government is imminent. We are going to win the Assembly election," he said.
