Italian man dressed as dead mother in order to claim her pension'

"An Italian man is under investigation for benefit fraud and hiding a body after allegedly dressing up as his dead mother including mimicking her hairstyle with a wig and wearing makeup and jewellery in order to claim her pension. The man, from Borgo Virgilio close to the northern Italian city of Mantua, allegedly claimed thousands of euros in pension payments after the death of his mother in 2022."

"It was not until earlier this month, when the 56-year-old allegedly disguised himself as his mother in an attempt to renew her ID card at the local council office, that police were alerted by a suspicious member of staff. Authorities compared an official photo of the deceased woman with that of her son. Police then inspected the man's home and found her body hidden in the laundry room, investigators said."

"Francesco Aporti, the mayor of Borgo Virgilio, told Corriere della Sera that the man had shuffled into the council office dressed as an old woman. He wore lipstick, nail polish, jewellery and old-fashioned earrings, and had a dark brown bob of hair, he said. The man tried to imitate a female voice, but occasionally a few masculine notes slipped out, the mayor said."

A 56-year-old man from Borgo Virgilio allegedly concealed his mother's body at home after her 2022 death and continued collecting her pension. He reportedly attempted to renew her ID by dressing as an elderly woman, using a wig, makeup, jewellery and a falsetto voice, which aroused suspicion at the local council. Officials compared the deceased woman's photo with the claimant and alerted police. Investigators then searched the home and found the corpse hidden in the laundry room. The man was reportedly an unemployed nurse who depended on his mother's pension and property income. Similar concealment cases have occurred in Italy.

Read at www.theguardian.com