Injury Under Eye: "I Was Hit by an Uncle at Home"
Police Booked Without Detention on Child Abuse Charges
Cheongju City Protects Child at Abuse Shelter
[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Bong-ju] A cohabiting man who assaulted his mistress's 11-year-old daughter, including slapping her for being clumsy at boiling eggs, was apprehended by the police.
On the 28th, Cheongju Heungdeok Police Station booked Mr. B without detention on charges of child abuse under the Child Welfare Act for slapping 11-year-old Ms. A.
Mr. B, the mother's live-in partner, is accused of disciplining and slapping Ms. A after taking issue with her leaving the gas stove on for a long time to boil eggs.
According to the police, on the night of the 23rd around 11 p.m., a report was received that a child, appearing to be an elementary school student, was wandering for nearly 30 minutes in underwear and slippers on a road in Seonghwa-dong, Seowon-gu, Cheongju.
Police who responded to a passerby's report found injuries under Ms. A's eyes that appeared to be caused by someone hitting her.
Ms. A, an elementary school student, told the police, "The man in the house hit my face because I didn't boil the eggs properly."
The "man" mentioned by Ms. A was Mr. B, her mother's cohabiting partner, and it was confirmed that Ms. A's mother was not at home at the time.
At the police station, Mr. B reportedly partially admitted to the abuse charges, saying, "I told her to be careful, but she didn't listen, so I couldn't control my anger."
A police official stated, "There are discrepancies between the statements of the child and the parents. Whether to book the mother will be decided after investigation."
Cheongju City judged that separating Ms. A from her parents was safer and is currently protecting her at a shelter for abuse victims.
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