Abandoning a Newborn in the Yard... Man and Woman Stand Trial After 13 Years

Abandonment Charges Emerge Through
Comprehensive Investigation of Unregistered Births

A man and woman who abandoned a newborn in someone else's yard without even registering the birth have been brought to trial on charges of child abandonment after 13 years.

On the 8th, Judge Kim Yongshin, the presiding judge of the Gwangju District Court Criminal Division 8, held the first trial for A (54) and B, who were indicted on charges of violating the Child Welfare Act (child abandonment and neglect).

The two were prosecuted for abandoning a newborn in the yard of a house in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon, on March 9, 2011.

The prosecution believes that while A directly abandoned the child, B acted as a lookout. However, during the trial, B partially denied the charges, stating, "It is true that I went to the scene with the child, but I did not act as a lookout and did not conspire to commit the crime."

The two, who were in a romantic relationship at the time, reportedly committed the act because they were unable to raise the child after an out-of-wedlock birth. The case recently came to light during the government's "Comprehensive Investigation of Unregistered Births."

On this day, A did not appear in court, so the judge issued a warrant for A's arrest. A public defender was appointed for B, and the next trial date was set. Their next hearing will be held at the Gwangju District Court on May 22.