Kyoto man accused of hiding mother’s death for pension
Bastillepost · 1 SOURCESabout 1 hour ago1 MIN
Summary
Kyoto police have rearrested a 49-year-old unemployed man in Nishikyo Ward on suspicion of fraud after he allegedly failed to report his 72-year-old mother’s death and continued receiving her national pension for about five years. Investigators say he collected about ¥11.5 million through 31 payments between April 2021 and April 2026, and he reportedly admitted using the money for living expenses
Key Points
- The suspect lived in Nishikyo Ward, Kyoto, and allegedly knew his mother had died around January 2021 but did not file a death notification
- Police said he fraudulently received basic pension and related payments 31 times from April 2021 to April 2026
- The total amount under investigation is about ¥11.5 million, reported as roughly HK$600,000
- According to the report, he told investigators he used his mother’s pension money to cover daily living costs
- The case surfaced in June after a relative, unable to contact the deceased woman, asked police to check on her safety
Why It Matters
The case points to a practical weakness in pension administration when payments may continue if a family does not report a death promptly. For Hong Kong readers, it is a reminder that benefit systems can be vulnerable when official records depend heavily on family notification rather than immediate cross-checking