ROME – Two men in Monza have been arrested on charges of aggravated fraud after faking being disabled, Monza financial police have said.

 The two Pakistani citizens were arrested after being caught on CCTV walking and driving a car. The man walking, 48, was officially disabled and declared he could only move around in a wheelchair. He was seen getting out of his wheelchair and crossing the road by himself to get into a car. The man driving, 28, was officially blind.

 Police arrested the two men on charges of aggravated fraud for obtaining public funds, ideological forgery by induction, undue receipt of citizenship income and self-laundering.

 It is believed the two men received subsidies totalling 66,000 euros between 2021 and 2023.

 National Institute for Social Security cooperated with Fiamme Gialle to investigate the matter. The 28-year-old allegedly received 25,000 euros in disability funds while the 48-year-old received 41,000 euros in two years.

 The doctors who had declared these men disabled were also investigated however were cleared of responsibility.

 The “blind” man is currently in custody while the “disabled” man was placed under house arrest.

 khg