Prosecutors Defer Indictment for Mother of 4-Year-Old Girl Found in Underwear

[Asia Economy Reporter Song Seung-yoon] The prosecution has decided to suspend prosecution against the mother of a 4-year-old girl who was found wearing only thermal underwear outside a convenience store in Gangbuk-gu, Seoul, during severe cold weather.

The Women and Children Crime Investigation Division of the Seoul Northern District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Bong-jun) announced on the 21st that Ms. A, who was accused of violating the Child Welfare Act, has been given a suspension of prosecution.

Ms. A is accused of leaving her daughter unattended at their residence for nine hours while she went to work in January. At the time, the daughter briefly went outside but could not re-enter the house because the door was locked, and was later found wandering near a nearby convenience store.

The prosecution considered that this was the first time Ms. A left her daughter alone to go to work, that she checked on her daughter’s condition 37 times by phone after leaving, and that she has been sincerely participating in counseling and education at a child protection agency. They also took into account the child protection agency’s petition for leniency for Ms. A in the interest of the child’s welfare.

Regarding Ms. B, the mother of a 5-year-old girl who came outside wearing thermal underwear for 30 seconds in Suyu-dong, Gangbuk-gu, in the same month, the prosecution decided to dismiss the charges. Ms. B was initially referred to the prosecution on suspicion of child abuse under the Child Welfare Act but denied the allegations, and her daughter testified that she was never told by Ms. B to go outside. The prosecution also considered the results of the daughter’s physical examination, which showed no signs of abuse.

However, based on the opinions of child protection experts, it was decided to place the daughter in a long-term care facility. Experts judged this decision considering that Ms. B has difficulty controlling her emotions, the daughter expressed that she did not want to live with Ms. B, and that the daughter did not show separation anxiety after being separated.