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A Slovenian woman has been accused of using a circular saw to cut her own hand off to gain £340,000 compensation in a fraudulent insurance claim.

The 21-year-old and one of her relatives have been arrested and face up to eight years in prison if convicted. Four members of the family were detained last year but two were later released.

Authorities in the country reportedly said the group deliberately sawed off the woman’s hand above the wrist at their home in Ljubljana, Slovenia’s capital city.

Relatives took the injured woman to hospital, saying she had hurt herself while sawing branches, the BBC reported.

Officials said the group left the severed hand behind to ensure the disability was permanent. But the hand was recovered it in time to sew it back on.

Police said the suspects recently took out injury insurance and that the woman stood to gain roughly €400,000 (£340,000) in compensation and monthly payments of about €3,000.

