“I faked a pregnancy because I didn’t want to lose him”... Man forgives girlfriend who bilked him for hospital bills and forged a stillbirth certificate [What Do You Think?]

[Financial News] The story has emerged of a woman in her 40s who pretended to be pregnant and even forged ultrasound images and a stillbirth certificate to keep her boyfriend, who was hesitant about marriage, from leaving her. 

According to a report by JTBC’s Case Chief on the 6th, A, a man in his early 50s, met B, a woman in her late 40s, through an acquaintance and the two began a serious relationship. A, who had little dating experience, fell deeply for B, who showed her devotion by carefully preparing side dishes for him and doing other thoughtful things.
The conflict began as they discussed marriage. B proposed marriage first, but when A, wanting to be cautious, said they should continue dating a little longer, B presented him with an ultrasound image a few days later, saying she was two months pregnant. Overjoyed by the news, A bought baby clothes, kept track of the due date and resolved to marry after the baby was born.
But B’s behavior was full of inconsistencies. When A asked to accompany her to an obstetrics and gynecology clinic, she angrily refused, saying, “Don’t you trust me?” and continued taking money from him under the pretext of medical expenses. His suspicions peaked when the due date passed without any news. After A’s family bombarded her with calls, she belatedly claimed, “The baby was stillborn,” and sent them a stillbirth certificate when they asked for proof.
After the family persistently pressed her and checked with the hospital, everything was revealed to be a lie. B had never been pregnant in the first place and had forged not only the ultrasound images but also the stillbirth certificate. The money she had obtained for hospital expenses during the supposed pregnancy had also been squandered on her personal living expenses.
When A, reeling from the shock, cut off contact, B tearfully pleaded with him, saying, “I did it because I was afraid of losing you while you were hesitating about marriage. It was a lie I told because I loved you so much.” Despite the outrageous deception, A said, “At least the care she showed in looking after me was sincere,” forgave B and decided to resume their relationship.
A’s family vented their anger, saying, “We’re afraid that the woman who has blinded our brother could even sever the ties within our family.”
Experts who appeared on the program warned that the acts could lead to legal punishment and urged that the relationship be ended. Seung Jae-hyeon, a research fellow at the Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice, said, “Forging and using a stillbirth certificate could constitute forgery of a private document and use of a forged private document. In addition, there is a strong likelihood that taking money for hospital expenses meets the elements of fraud.” He added, “Don’t let emotions sway you; you need to end the relationship both legally and in practical terms.”

Attorney Park Ji-hoon also called it “a serious, criminal-level lie that went too far” and advised the family to make active efforts to persuade.

[email protected] Moon Young-jin Reporter