Man Who Abused and Killed 20-Month-Old Girl Also Faces Sexual Assault Charges

'DNA Test Results Reveal Child Victim's Biological Father Is Not the Suspect'
'Charges Include Not Only Child Abuse but Also Sexual Violence Crimes'

A man in his 20s accused of abusing and killing a 20-month-old girl has been arrested and indicted on charges of sexual assault as well. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Seohyun] A man in his 20s accused of abusing and killing his 20-month-old child is also confirmed to be charged with sexually assaulting the child before death. Furthermore, contrary to initial reports, the man was found not to be the child's biological father.

According to the legal community on the 6th, the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office has arrested and indicted Yang Mo (29) on charges including child abuse homicide under the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes and violations of the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes.

Yang is accused of repeatedly assaulting his 20-month-old daughter with his fists and feet after covering her with a blanket when she would not sleep and cried at his home in Daedeok-gu, Daejeon, in the early morning of June 15, causing her death. At the time, Yang was intoxicated.

After the child died, he, along with his wife Jeong Mo (26), hid the baby's body in an icebox in the bathroom inside their home.

Subsequently, on the 9th of last month, police, responding to a report from the baby's maternal grandmother suspecting child abuse, searched the house and discovered the severely decomposed body of the child.

Earlier, during the police investigation, Yang claimed to be the child's biological father, but DNA testing revealed that he was not, according to the prosecution.

Additionally, the prosecution included allegations that he committed sexual assault during the abuse of the female child in the indictment. However, Yang denies the sexual assault charges, and it is expected that disputes regarding this will continue during the trial.

Meanwhile, Yang's wife Jeong, who was involved in hiding the child's body, has also been prosecuted on charges including concealment of a corpse.