[Asia Economy Reporter Park Hyesook] In connection with the death of an elementary school student found dead with bruises all over the body, the police have applied for arrest warrants for the stepmother and biological father.
The Women and Youth Investigation Unit of the Incheon Metropolitan Police Agency applied for an arrest warrant on the 9th for Ms. A (43) on charges of child abuse resulting in death under the Special Act on the Punishment of Child Abuse Crimes, and for her husband Mr. B (40) on charges of habitual child abuse under the Child Welfare Act.
The police applied the charge of child abuse resulting in death only to Ms. A, as the causal relationship between Mr. B’s abuse and the death of boy C was not clear.
Ms. A is accused of abusing her 5th-grade stepson, boy C (12), causing his death at their apartment in Namdong-gu, Incheon, on the 7th. Mr. B is also accused of habitually abusing boy C, including beating him.
On the day boy C died, Mr. B went to work in the morning but returned home after receiving a call from his wife saying "the child’s condition seems bad" and reported to 119. Boy C was transported to a nearby hospital in cardiac arrest but passed away.
Several bruises, presumed to be contusions caused by external impact, were found on the deceased boy C’s body.
Initially, during police investigation, the couple denied abuse, claiming the bruises on the body were self-inflicted by their son, but later, under police questioning, admitted "we hit him because the child did not obey," while insisting "it was for disciplinary purposes and we did not realize it was abuse."
Boy C had been absent from school continuously since November 24 of last year and was under close supervision by the education authorities.
However, the couple reportedly refused various notices from the school, stating they were preparing for studying abroad in the Philippines and were conducting homeschooling at home.
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