Berlin: Boy booted from public housing

BERLIN, June 19 (UPI) -- Berlin's youth welfare office says it plans to sue Robin van Helsum, who claimed to have lived in the woods with his father and collected benefits.

Van Helsum faces a lawsuit for fraudulent appropriation of youth benefits, The Local reported. He was forced to leave public housing Monday after having received nearly $4,000 in public assistance over the course of a week.

"We're going to demand this money back," said Ed Koch, spokesman for the youth welfare office. "Whether we ever see it again, we don't know."

Van Helsum appeared in Berlin's town hall in September claiming he was a 17-year-old named Ray. Ray allegedly had lived in the woods with his father for five years. Right before his death, Ray's father instructed him to walk north until he reached civilization, the boy said.

When a picture of Ray was published earlier this month, his family recognized 20-year-old van Helsum, who disappeared in September.

Family and acquaintances came forward to police, piecing together a complicated portrait. Van Helsum reportedly had a messy history with both his parents, and also allegedly is the father of a 2-year-old son.

As of Tuesday, Die Welt newspaper reported van Helsum had not been heard from after being booted from public housing.