A couple in their 20s who gave birth to a newborn at a lodging facility and left the baby unattended, causing death, also received heavy sentences on appeal.
The Criminal Division 2 of the Gwangju High Court on the 7th sentenced a 29-year-old man, A, and a 22-year-old woman, B, to seven years in prison each in their appeals on charges including child abuse resulting in death and abandoning a body.
The two, who are in a romantic relationship, were indicted on charges of leaving the newborn they delivered in a motel room in Mokpo, South Jeolla, last year unattended, causing the baby to die 67 days after birth. They also left the dead child's body in a pile of trash inside the motel room for 10 days.
The newborn had not even been registered at birth and, while alive, reportedly did not receive proper care such as vaccinations and checkups.
The court dismissed both the defendants' and the prosecution's appeals.