9-Month-Old Biological Son Starved by Mother, Sold Formula Through Secondhand Transactions

Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office Applies Severe Injury Charges for Child Abuse
Infant Victim Experienced Weight Loss and Dehydration Symptoms Since June

The Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office Women and Children Crime Investigation Division (Chief Prosecutor Kim Ji-hye) announced on the 5th that A was arrested and indicted on charges of child abuse causing serious injury. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Bang Je-il] A (37), who is accused of starving and neglecting her 9-month-old biological son, causing cardiac arrest, will face trial.

The Women's and Children's Crime Investigation Division of the Daejeon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Kim Ji-hye) announced on the 5th that A was arrested and indicted on charges of child abuse causing serious injury.

A is accused of causing cardiac arrest by failing to take any action despite B, who was in a state of nutritional deficiency, being unable to breathe and unresponsive around the 8th of last month. B suffered brain damage due to cardiac arrest after being left unattended for about four hours until being transported to the hospital following a report from an acquaintance, and is currently receiving life-sustaining treatment in the intensive care unit.

Investigations revealed that from June to November, A did not properly feed B with formula and baby food, leading to weight loss and dehydration.

According to the infant health checkup records reviewed by the prosecution, B, who was in the top 10% among peers with a height of 70.5 cm and weight of 9 kg in early August, showed almost no growth in height and a decrease in weight to 7.5 kg (bottom 3%) three months later.

A initially denied the charges, claiming there was no intent to abuse, but the prosecution obtained a confession after additionally confirming that A resold the formula B was consuming on a secondhand trading site and failed to administer five mandatory national vaccinations.

A prosecution official stated, "We have requested the Daejeon Crime Victim Support Center to provide medical expense support for the victim child," and added, "We will do our utmost to maintain the prosecution to ensure the defendant receives a sentence commensurate with the crime."