Mother Who Left Son Unregistered and Abandoned at Acquaintance's Home Gets 8 Months in Prison in Appeal

A biological mother who gave birth to a child, left the child's birth unregistered, and abandoned him at an acquaintance's home has been sentenced to prison in her second trial as well.

On August 12, the 5-1 Criminal Division of the Daejeon District Court (Presiding Judge Shin Hye-young) dismissed the prosecution's appeal in the second trial of Defendant A (53), who was indicted on charges of violating the Child Welfare Act (child abandonment and neglect), upholding the lower court's sentence of eight months in prison.

Defendant A was put on trial for giving birth to her son in 2018, failing to register his birth, and abandoning him at the residence of a former cohabiting acquaintance from around the time of his birth until October 2024.

As a result, the victimized child was reportedly deprived of essential health and medical services, such as vaccinations that are only accessible with a birth registration, as well as basic education.

The first-instance court stated, "Although the defendant is the child's biological mother, she neglected him by leaving him with a former cohabiting acquaintance rather than his biological father, causing the child to show symptoms such as language delay and a lack of emotional stability." However, considering that the victimized child is being protected and improving in a facility, and that the defendant has faced economic difficulties while raising other children, it sentenced her to eight months in prison.

The prosecution appealed, arguing that the sentence was too lenient, but the appeal was not accepted.

The appellate court ruled, "The child's damages pointed out by the prosecution were sufficiently considered in the lower court," adding, "The sentence of the lower court appears to be appropriate."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
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