A court in Palma de Mallorca found a son guilty of mismanaging his elderly mother’s finances, a case that unfolded amid concerns about her cognitive decline. The judge sentenced him to one year in prison, suspended for five years, on the condition that he repay the full amount he had taken. The man was required to return 17,000 euros in installments and to make monthly payments of 354 euros until the debt was settled. The court accepted the defendant’s admission of guilt to the charge of mismanaging his mother’s affairs, given that she was unable to oversee her own finances due to illness and had previously appointed him as manager of her economic matters.
Evidence showed that the defendant controlled two bank accounts in his mother’s name, accounts that were funded exclusively by her pension and intended to cover her care costs. He had authority to manage these funds for her welfare and to make financial decisions necessary for her upkeep.
For at least three years, the defendant held responsibility for his mother’s maintenance and asset management. The period in question spanned from 2017 to 2020, during which authorities discovered and condemned inappropriate spending. Because the daughter was the sole individual with access to the funds, she began using the antiquated account to settle personal expenses. The charges highlighted several instances where the defendant used the mother’s funds to cover veterinary bills, fuel purchases, and the purchase of expensive jewelry and perfumes for personal use. These purchases were charged to the mother’s savings rather than to the defendant’s own account, and cash withdrawals from the elderly woman’s account were also documented.
The judgment highlighted the most significant transactions. In the first year after being appointed caregiver, the defendant withdrew more than 3,500 euros in cash, a sum that far exceeded the monthly ~300 euros needed for the mother’s basic expenses. The following year showed continued fraudulent activity, with the offender seizing 5,500 euros in installments before the conduct was discovered and reported to the police.
The ruling stresses that the defendant used his mother’s bank account to fund his own living costs, gradually draining the funds. Examples include purchases for tobacco and nicotine replacement products, medicines to quit smoking, a brand-name perfume, and a watch costing more than 500 euros. He also charged expenses related to filling his own car’s gas tank against the mother’s account.
The verdict notes that the victim had suffered from cognitive impairment for an extended period and that her mental health deteriorated, eventually leading to an Alzheimer’s diagnosis. As her condition worsened, she became incapable of managing her finances and was declared legally incapacitated for work. A court-appointed guardian – her daughter – took charge of the care she required. In total, the daughter’s use of the funds amounted to 17,000 euros.
The defendant did not offer a formal explanation in court beyond a prior settlement with the prosecutor, which had included a guilty plea in exchange for not serving prison time. The case thus centers on the exploitation of a vulnerable parent by the child charged with her care, highlighting the legal and ethical boundaries around guardianship and the protection of elders’ financial assets, especially when cognitive impairment is present.