Brothers in Opava faked mental disability for almost 20 years, swindling the state out of 11.5 million crowns

Police in the Czech city of Opava have uncovered a long-running fraud scheme: two adult brothers, with help from their parents and so-called "caregivers," spent almost 19 years pretending to suffer from severe mental illness in order to collect disability pensions and social benefits. The case was disclosed by police spokesman Jan Segsulka.

According to him, the brothers managed to fool doctors and officials for all these years thanks to the medical certificates and reports used to grant them disability status. Meanwhile, the supposedly "sick" men were seen calmly strolling through shopping malls, taking out loans, and even breaking the law.

A family scam dating back to 2007

The elder brother, together with his parents, had been defrauding the state since 2007. In front of officials and doctors, the family staged elaborate performances meant to convince everyone that their "ill" son required round-the-clock care and was completely incapable of living independently.

The supposed patient refused to speak with inspectors, feigned severe intellectual disability, or pretended to be fast asleep whenever commissions came to check on him. "According to the parents, the young man — who had recently come of age — was allegedly unable to communicate or use the toilet on his own, and displayed unprovoked aggression, which supposedly made certain examinations impossible," Segsulka said.

The younger brother joined in 2010

The younger brother used the very same scheme, launching his own "acting career" in 2010. Before that, the otherwise perfectly healthy nineteen-year-old had managed to finish school and complete several semesters at a technical college. For added effect, he also let out various screams and shouts, the police spokesman noted.

Surveillance exposed the fraud

Police launched their investigation more than a year ago, tracking the brothers' movements and gathering evidence. It turned out that both men moved freely around Opava without any assistance, visited shopping centers on their own, and even signed loan agreements with non-bank lenders and mobile operators.

Investigators found that the brothers communicated normally with people around them at all times and moved about without any difficulty whatsoever. What's more, the younger brother had previously come to the attention of Opava's misdemeanor commission over rude behavior and insults during a train journey.

Damages exceed 11 million crowns

Through lies, staged performances, and fraud, the family built what amounted to a lucrative business. According to police, the elder brother cheated the state out of more than 6.2 million crowns, while the younger one took 5.3 million crowns. Five family members in total have been charged with fraud. If convicted, the three men face up to eight years in prison, while the two women face up to five years.

Read also: Mobile operator in Czechia: which one to choose in 2026

Around Prague, based on reporting by novinky.cz