A 70-year-old man from Vicenza, Italy, is accused of pretending to be completely blind for 53 years and unlawfully claiming more than one million euros in disability payments.
Authorities alleged that the man began receiving benefits after an incident at work, claiming total blindness. However, a routine cross-check by the police command of the Finance Department in the province of Vicenza raised concerns.
Officers then placed the man under surveillance and captured video evidence that contradicted his claims. Footage showed him gardening with dangerous tools and inspecting goods at markets before purchasing them.
Further evidence indicated he completed various transactions independently, without requiring any assistance, all while being recorded.
The Vicenza prosecutor's office has since filed a fraud case against him. His disability allowance has been immediately halted, and recovery of taxes and other public funds is now under way.
