CANCER con woman Belle Gibson has cried in a Melbourne court as she was quizzed about her role caring for a mystery woman.
The 27-year-old was fined after breaching consumer law when she claimed she had brain cancer but healed herself using natural remedies, going on to make a profit from her followers.
Gibson was caring for “Claire” under an arrangement with the woman’s daughter, the Federal Court was told on Thursday.
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READ NOW“I’m sorry … it’s of a personal nature, it’s not something I want to be discussing,” she replied when questioned about the arrangement with the woman.
Gibson removed her pink glasses and started crying, prompting the court to take a short break.
“I care about these people,” she said, adding she was upset because of her “empathetic nature”.
The arrangement with the woman started through online outsourcing skills site AirTasker but Gibson revealed she had since been kicked off the platform.
“(I’m) no longer able to use the platform. I’m uncertain why,” she said.
Gibson has returned to court over her failure to pay a $410,000 penalty for lying to Australians.
She claimed she could not afford to pay the fine, handed to her in September 2017.
The court was last month told forensic accounts examining Gibson’s bank accounts had discovered “curious” trading including of crypto-currencies and a Sportsbet account.
As well as claiming she cured herself of cancer, the fake wellness blogger lied to customers and said she would donate money from her Whole Pantry app and book sales to charities.
Gibson received $440,500 from sales of her app and book but donated only about $10,000.
Her barrister, Andrew Tragardh, previously said his client could not afford to keep coming back to court.
Gibson attended court on Thursday wearing a black jacket and black stilettos, her hair in a ponytail.