A Calgary woman who faked having terminal breast cancer to collect funds from her friends and co-workers was found guilty of fraud on Wednesday (March 31) in Alberta, Canada.
The culprit, Lara Rovang, had collected a total of $15,000 (P531,344) in money and services and was sentenced to 60 days in prison, including a three-year probationary period upon release.
Citing reports from CBCnews Canada, Rovang’s friends and co-workers rallied around her and raised thousands of dollars to support her supposed bout with the dreaded disease.
Twelve employees event went as far as shaving their heads for several fundraisers in order to come up with the cash.
Jennifer St-Germain, one of Rovang’s co-workers, expressed her disgust upon uncovering the lie.
“We were well aware of her illness and of course we had empathy for her illness and to find out later… learning this woman lied about being sick,” she said.
Apart from claiming she had cancer, Rovang also professed to having a fatal heart condition to her daycare providers and other members of the public.
Drug addiction
According to Rovang’s defense lawyer, Rebecca Snukal, her client was heavily addicted to heroine during the time of fraud and event went to great lengths to convince people of her illnesses.
“She began to self-mutilate to emulate surgical scars,” said Snukal.
“She also shaved patches of her hair to emulate side-effects of cancer treatment.”
Despite the severity of her crimes, Snukal managed to reduce her client’s verdict due to her ‘tragic upbringing’.
Rovang’s 60-day sentence is to be served on weekends and once it’s complete, she will be on probation for three years.
She is ordered to pay the full $15,000 restitution to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada, and has until 2019 to come up with the money.
Rovang will also have to complete 100 hours of community service.