Mother in her 20s who gave birth to a newborn...No charges found after investigation for the first time in 10 years

A mother who handed over her newborn to someone else through an adoption cafe immediately after giving birth was investigated for the first time in over 10 years, but was ultimately cleared of the charges.

According to the legal community on the 9th, the Seoul Southern District Prosecutors' Office decided not to indict Mr. A, in his 30s, on charges of child abandonment and neglect under the Child Welfare Act in March.

Person A is accused of handing over the child to another person without proper protection after giving birth in 2013.

The investigation began with a report from a local community center employee who was suspicious that although there was a birth record, the birth had not been reported for over 10 years.

Mr. A admitted that he delivered the child.

However, he claimed that he had made this choice because he had lost contact with the child's biological father at the time and was concerned that a record of adoption would remain on his birth certificate if he went through formal adoption procedures.

At the time, he posted a message on an adoption cafe and received a call from an infertile couple living overseas, and after meeting with them several times, he handed over the child.

The prosecution decided not to indict.

Although it is true that Mr. A handed over the child without formal procedures, it is difficult to acknowledge the intentional abandonment and neglect of the child.

The prosecution explained, "Under the Child Welfare Act, neglect must be recognized as causing damage equivalent to abandonment and physical and emotional abuse, but Mr. A took protective actions such as administering vaccinations."

He also added, "We also took into account the fact that the child is currently being raised without problems in a normal family."

Attorney Park Seong-dong of Daeryun Law Firm, who represented Mr. A, said, "Mr. A thought about the future of his child from various angles even in difficult situations, including meeting and talking with couples who expressed their intention to adopt 5 to 6 times. We were able to achieve a good result by emphasizing that, regardless of moral validity, the establishment of a crime must be judged strictly."
 

Jeong Eui-jin (jej88@ikbc.co.kr)

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Mom in her 20s who lost her newborn... 'No charges' after 10 years of investigation (Shortcut)