Going Out Once Every Two Months, Watching TV 2 Hours a Week
Long-Term Mental and Physical Child Abuse
The prosecution has filed a petition to revoke parental rights against a biological mother who raised her child in a closed environment from around the age of five and subjected the child to long-term mental and physical abuse. On the 19th, the Criminal Division 2 of Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office (Chief Prosecutor Hong Seung-hyun) filed a petition for loss of parental rights and a trial to replace the consent of the guardian against A (52), who was indicted on charges of child abuse under the Child Welfare Act and false accusation, according to JoongAng Ilbo.
A is accused of slapping her child B several times on April 12 for violating the TV watching time limit set at two hours per week. The next day, she allegedly woke B, who was sleeping, in the early morning and struck him on the cheek more than ten times and hit his head with a book. A was transferred to the prosecution in custody after repeatedly failing to comply with police summons without justifiable reasons.
According to the prosecution's investigation, A raised B in a closed environment, homeschooling him since the second grade of elementary school and allowing him to go out only once every two months. It was also revealed that A began physically abusing B from the age of five for reasons such as not cleaning his room and continued long-term physical abuse while psychologically controlling him by saying, "Don't trust anyone, only trust mom."
After receiving the child abuse case from the police, the prosecution additionally recognized charges of false accusation against A for filing a false complaint claiming "the victim self-harmed" after a traffic accident she caused in July last year, and indicted her together. During the investigation, a clinical psychological evaluation was conducted on the victim child, confirming the need for psychological treatment and protective support. Subsequently, a case management meeting was held with the Gangwon Provincial Office of Education, Chuncheon City Office of Education, Chuncheon City Hall, and Chuncheon Police Station, agreeing to promote admission to the hospital-type Wee Center.
Judging that there are serious reasons preventing A from exercising parental rights, the prosecution filed a petition for "loss of parental rights," a preparatory petition for "restriction of parental rights" in case of dismissal, and a trial to replace the guardian's consent for admission to the hospital-type Wee Center.
Meanwhile, A is also under police investigation for obstruction of official duties and false accusation apart from this case. Superintendent Shin Kyung-ho of the provincial education office reported A to the police in May, stating that she seriously interfered with teachers' educational activities. This is the first case in which a provincial superintendent has criminally charged a parent for interfering with educational activities. According to the provincial education office, from March to December last year, A seriously interfered with the legitimate educational activities of teacher C by falsely reporting her as a stalker to 112 after prior notice of B's absence and home visits, and by accusing her of child abuse with false claims.
As a result, teacher C suffered from tension headaches, lethargy due to stress, anxiety disorder, and adjustment disorder, receiving psychiatric treatment from March to October last year. Regarding this case, Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office stated, "We will continue to respond strictly to child abuse crimes and support victim children in various ways to better protect the growth environment of children in society."
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