An Australian social media influencer was arrested Thursday and charged with poisoning and torturing a one-year-old girl in order to receive thousands of dollars in donations from her followers.
The 34-year-old woman from the Sunshine Coast region did not wish to be named, but Queensland Police say she obtained prescription drugs and administered them to her one-year-old child without a doctor’s permission between August 6 and October 15 last year. It was announced that. The girl, according to a press release issued Thursday. Authorities have not disclosed the relationship between the woman and the child.
Police said the woman recorded and posted a video of the girl “subjecting herself to immense pain and suffering.” She allegedly used the video to collect donations from her online followers.
According to the BBC, the influencer has raised around AU$60,000 (US$37,000) through GoFundMe. The platform is currently working on refunding donors following the woman’s arrest.
Medical staff called police on October 15 after the child was taken to hospital complaining of “severe mental and physical distress and harm,” the report said.
On January 7, police announced that a child had tested positive for an unapproved drug.
The influencer was charged with five counts of administering a poisonous substance with intent to cause harm, three counts of preparing a crime with a dangerous substance, and one count each of torture and fraud involving child exploitation.
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“There is no excuse for harming a child, especially one-year-old children who depend on others for their care and survival,” Lt. Paul Dalton said in a statement.
The Guardian reported that the woman appeared in court on Friday with her lawyer, Matthew Cuskelly, asking for protective custody.
“There has been some media coverage of this incident and I am concerned for my client’s safety,” Cuskelly told the court.
