Daughter Who Left Mother's Body Unattended for Over 2 Years Sent to Prosecution... Additional Charges Including Neglect Added

[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] A woman in her 40s who left her deceased mother's skeletonized body at home for over two years to continue receiving pension payments has been referred to the prosecution.

On the 20th, the Namdong Police Station in Incheon announced that they had sent A (47, female), who was arrested on charges of corpse abandonment, to the prosecution with additional charges of neglect under the Elderly Welfare Act and violations of the National Pension Act and Basic Pension Act.

The police confirmed that until last month, A received her mother's (who was 76 years old at the time of death) basic pension of 300,000 KRW and national pension of 200,000 to 300,000 KRW monthly, using most of the money herself, and applied additional charges accordingly. The total pension A received on behalf of her mother for 28 months after her death amounts to around 15 million KRW.

It was also investigated that A neglected her mother, who had difficulty moving due to diabetes and other conditions, by not providing proper treatment while she was alive. The Elderly Welfare Act prohibits caregivers from neglecting basic protection or treatment for elderly persons aged 65 or older.

40s Daughter Neglecting Mother's Corpse
Photo by Yonhap News

A is accused of leaving her mother's body at a villa in Namdong-gu, Incheon, from August 2020 until recently.

During police questioning, she reportedly stated, "I did not report my mother's death because I was afraid the pension payments in her name would stop."

Earlier, on the 11th, police responded to a report from A's younger sister saying, "We couldn't contact our mother, and the older sister living with her would not open the door." Upon arrival, they discovered the skeletonized body of B.

A note written by A stating "Mom died in August 2020" was found inside the house, and the police immediately arrested her.