A 12-year-old boy spent the money that was donated by his relatives for his father’s cancer treatment on mobile phone games, according to the South China Morning Post.
The incident happened in Fuchun county in Sichuan, China.
Took the money while visiting sick father
The boy spent about 3,800 yuan (or SGD $775) at the Xiaomi Game Centre, a mobile gaming platform, back in July.
He took the money when he was visiting his father, who has late-stage brain cancer, at the hospital and used his dad’s phone.
Sole breadwinner
The father, who is the sole breadwinner of the family after his wife died 10 years ago, suffers from late-stage brain cancer and doctors opted for a cheaper treatment method after considering the family’s financial resources.
Before he got sick, he worked in construction while his 15 and 12-year-old sons stayed home.
Their relatives pooled monetary donations for his cancer treatment, and they only realised that the money was stolen by the 12-year-old boy after a relative went to make payment for the medical bills after the father died.
As a result, the relatives had to raise some more money to pay the hospital fees.
Gaming company didn’t believe the family
The uncle of the boy, asked the game company for a refund, but they initially didn’t believe him – it was only after a journalist made inquiries and they conducted background checks, did they agree to return the money to the family, which will be put aside for the two boys in the future.
Following their father’s death, the two boys have been placed in an orphanage, according to the local government.
The 12-year-old boy who stole the money said that he feels “sorry for (his) father” and his relatives who pitched in to help.