Posted on 06/04/2014 1:13:51 PM PDT by a fool in paradise
He was thought to be the oldest man in Tokyo - but when officials went to congratulate Sogen Kato on his 111th birthday, they uncovered mummified skeletal remains lying in his bed.
Mr Kato may have been dead for 30 years according to Japanese authorities.
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.
...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.
But the family had received 9.5 million yen ($109,000: £70,000) in widower's pension payments via Mr Kato's bank account since his wife died six years ago, and some of the money had recently been withdrawn...
(Excerpt) Read more at bbc.co.uk ...
>>>> they kept his body in a freezer for several years while still collecting his SS check. I can’t remember how it was discovered (and I’m not sure I want to know). Maybe a long term power outage? <<<<
Oh, ick.
Wonder why the social security dept doesn’t have a better system for discovering fraud? Perhaps yearly contact w everyone over age 80.
I guess like ALL gov’t agencies say, they don’t have enough personnel or $$ to check. Personally, I don’t buy it but that’s the usual excuse.
Personally I feel it might be bad karma to trifle with a guy who says he's the living Buddha (or has one of the kids deliver the message.) So,whenever questions about Living Buddhas come up, I immediately insist on a reading from a Unity Church pastor. They know all about Buddhas, Jesus, Muhammed, The Dalai Lama, etc.
A naturally cautious fellow, I also tend to refrain from discussing sensitive religious or political subjects with Jap senior citizens who may have used American POWs for bayonet practice.
“Oh, ick.”
Disgusting! What some people would do for $ is atrocious.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.