Tokyo officials went to congratulate Sogen Kato, Tokyo’s oldest man this week on his 111th birthday, when they uncovered his mummified skeletal remains lying in his bed! Oop-sies! Forensic scientists say that Sogen has actually been dead for over 30 years, laying in dat bed, but that his family has been cashing in on his government cheques! Those shady bitches!
They grew suspicious when they went to honour Mr Kato at his address in Adachi ward, but his granddaughter told them he “doesn’t want to see anybody”.
Police are now investigating the family on possible fraud charges.
Welfare officials had tried to meet Mr Kato since early this year. But when they went to visit, family members repeatedly chased them away, according to Tomoko Iwamatsu, an Adachi ward official.
Authorities grew suspicious and sought an investigation by police, who forced their way into the house on Wednesday.
They discovered a mummified body, believed to be Kato, lying in his bed, wearing underwear and pyjamas, covered with a blanket.
Mr Kato’s relatives told police that he had “confined himself in his room more than 30 years ago and became a living Buddha,” according to a report by Jiji Press.
I mean, if you’re gonna scam someone — at least be smart about it! 111 is pushing it! I would have pulled the plug at 105. That would have been less fishy.
This actually happened back in 2010 and was reported by the BBC at the time. A Reddit post yesterday led many to believe that it was a recent event, even though the post itself referenced the original BBC story.