A court in the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina has found Amanda Maria Souza de Oliveira guilty, who for more than a year posed as a 12-year-old girl and lived with a family that had taken her in as their daughter.

The woman was convicted of fraud and the use of a false identity. She lived for 14 months with a family in the city of Joinville before her true age and identity were revealed.

According to the court ruling, Oliveira constructed a fictitious biography, presenting herself as a child who had experienced abuse and health issues. She used a high, childish voice and claimed that she had been given hormones in the past, which made her look older.

The case is part of a more complex scheme that, according to investigators, has been applied at different times and locations. Data from Brazilian authorities indicate that the woman used similar fabricated identities in other states as well.

Admission after discovery

After her identity was established, Oliveira admitted to investigators that she had lied about her age and past. She stated that she did not intend to cause harm to the people who had taken her in.

"Of course, I deceived people, I lied. But I had no intention of hurting anyone," Oliveira told the police.

According to her, her actions were related to a deep need for care and affection that she did not receive in her childhood.

"There was a void in me, a need for that kind of care, so I was always looking for it," she said.

Defense to appeal

Her lawyer, Lucio Souza, stated that his client admits to using a fabricated identity, but according to him, it was a survival mechanism.

"She admits that she invented an identity. That was her way of surviving. But she has been a vulnerable person for over 20 years," the defense attorney said before the sentencing.

He further pointed out that Oliveira had lived on the streets and that there is no evidence she received financial gain or committed theft. The court ruling, however, acknowledges that the family covered her living expenses during the period they accepted her as a child.

The sentence includes one year, six months, and 10 days of imprisonment, as well as four months and 18 days of detention in a semi-open regime. Following the verdict, the defense announced that it would take the necessary legal actions and appeal to a higher court.