NEW DELHI: A woman was arrested after she tried to get a loan of 17,000 Brazilian Reais (roughly around $3200) from a bank in Rio de Janeiro using a deceased man in a wheelchair. The woman, identified as Erika de Souza Vieira Nunes, claimed to be the niece and caregiver of the 68-year-old Paulo Roberto Braga, who had passed away hours earlier.
The bank staff grew suspicious after she used her hand to keep the deceased pensioner’s head upright.She told him, ‘Uncle, are you listening? You have to sign it. I can’t sign for you.’
Paramedics confirmed Braga had passed away a few hours earlier.
Officials said that they will be carry out a detailed investigation to see if Nunes was on her own or had other accomplices. Authorities suspect they could be dealing with an organized fraud.
A footage published in media showed Nunes telling her uncle to hold of his pen and to sign a piece of paper on a desk in front of him alongside his photo ID with his name on it.
The video showed the Braga’s head swaying back and forth before she grabbed hold of his neck with her left hand from behind.
She said, ‘Sign here and stop giving me a headache.’ However, Braga didn’t respond to her.
The bank worker replied, ‘I don’t think this is legal. He doesn’t look well. He’s very pale.’ Erika replied, ‘He’s like that.’ She then turned to Braga and said, ‘If you’re not well, I can take you to hospital. Do you want to go back to the hospital again?’
The incident is similar to a case in Ireland last year, where two men, Declan Haughney and Gareth Coakley, were imprisoned for attempting to claim a dead man’s pension by bringing his body to a post office.
Declan Haughney, 41, received a two-year sentence and 37-year-old Gareth Coakley was given an 18-month prison term.
The bank staff grew suspicious after she used her hand to keep the deceased pensioner’s head upright.She told him, ‘Uncle, are you listening? You have to sign it. I can’t sign for you.’
Paramedics confirmed Braga had passed away a few hours earlier.
Officials said that they will be carry out a detailed investigation to see if Nunes was on her own or had other accomplices. Authorities suspect they could be dealing with an organized fraud.
A footage published in media showed Nunes telling her uncle to hold of his pen and to sign a piece of paper on a desk in front of him alongside his photo ID with his name on it.
The video showed the Braga’s head swaying back and forth before she grabbed hold of his neck with her left hand from behind.
She said, ‘Sign here and stop giving me a headache.’ However, Braga didn’t respond to her.
The bank worker replied, ‘I don’t think this is legal. He doesn’t look well. He’s very pale.’ Erika replied, ‘He’s like that.’ She then turned to Braga and said, ‘If you’re not well, I can take you to hospital. Do you want to go back to the hospital again?’
The incident is similar to a case in Ireland last year, where two men, Declan Haughney and Gareth Coakley, were imprisoned for attempting to claim a dead man’s pension by bringing his body to a post office.
Declan Haughney, 41, received a two-year sentence and 37-year-old Gareth Coakley was given an 18-month prison term.