Slovenian Woman Cuts Hand to Claim Insurance

Slovenian Woman Cuts Hand to Claim Insurance
An ambulance. (S.C. Axman/CC BY 2.0)

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia—Authorities say a Slovenian woman who deliberately cut off her hand with a circular saw to collect insurance money faces up to eight years in jail.

Police say the 21-year-old woman, helped by her relatives, had hoped to claim nearly $640,000 (400,000 euros) in insurance payments.

The unidentified woman claimed she had been cutting tree branches when she severed her left hand just above the wrist.

Slovenian woman cuts hand
Ljubljana, Slovenia. (Screenshot Google Maps)

Officials say family members left the severed hand behind rather than bring it to the hospital to ensure the disability was permanent.

But doctors recovered it in time to sew it back on.

Stock photo circular saw
Stock photo of a circular saw in Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif., on July 28, 2011. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

Police say the incident happened earlier this year after the family had signed insurance contracts with five different insurance companies.

Police say “there was no payment because we discovered the fraud in time.”

Four members of the family were initially detained over the incident, but two were later released. The other two, including the woman, face jail time if convicted, news outlets reported.

ntd newsletter icon
Sign up for NTD Daily
What you need to know, summarized in one email.
Stay informed with accurate news you can trust.
By registering for the newsletter, you agree to the Privacy Policy.
Comments