While you were sleeping...

Quiet_thought

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-pacific-10809128

I guess he didn't have a lot of friends.

Tokyo's 'oldest man' had been dead for 30 years
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.
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.
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pension payments via Mr Kato's bank account since his wife died six years ago, and some of the money had recently been withdrawn.
The pension fund had long been unable to contact Mr Kato.
"His family must have known he has been dead all these years and acted as if nothing happened. It's so eerie," said Yutaka Muroi, a Tokyo metropolitan welfare official.

Superbus

As opposed to other 111 year olds, who are positively bursting with vitality.

orourkeda

Even the japanese are up for a bit if welfare fraud.

Nice

Kasabian

Pension scam , nothing more nothing less

Quiet_thought

yes but still funny

mojesius

Kasabian wrote: »

Pension scam , nothing more nothing less

Ah in fairness, it's a bit messed up leaving your grandad to mummify so you can claim his pension.

Rhyme

mojesius wrote: »

Ah in fairness, it's a bit messed up leaving your grandad to mummify so you can claim his pension.

Yeah, they should have brought him to a taxidermist, at least try and fool the authorities.

Kasabian

mojesius wrote: »

Ah in fairness, it's a bit messed up leaving your grandad to mummify so you can claim his pension.

Yes, but at least his room was tidy

bonerm

Rhyme wrote: »

Yeah, they should have brought him to a taxidermist, at least try and fool the authorities.

Taxidermist told them to get stuffed.

mawk

Rhyme wrote: »

Yeah, they should have brought him to a taxidermist, at least try and fool the authorities.

stick him in a wheelchair and put a blanket on him. Maybe a tape recorder of snoring and bring him to the post office to collect the pension himself.. What could possibly fail in the plan?

GavRedKing

mawk wrote: »

stick him in a wheelchair and put a blanket on him. Maybe a tape recorder of snoring and bring him to the post office to collect the pension himself.. What could possibly fail in the plan?

Wait a minute.........these are fake arms!! :eek:

Lando Griffin

I wonder was he disqualified from the prize since his real living age was only 81.

chin_grin

Great story!

Quiet_thought

It's like weekend at bernies, if bernie was an elderly chinese man....