A woman known as a broadcaster (BJ) has been sentenced to 7 years in prison for extorting more than 800 million won by threatening singer and musical actor Kim Junsu.
On the 1st, the 10th-1 Criminal Division of the Seoul High Court imposed the same 7-year prison sentence on the woman, identified as A, who was indicted for extortion under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Economic Crimes.
Additionally, the appellate court ordered the confiscation of one seized mobile phone and one smartphone device due to concerns about further harm.
The court explained the sentencing reasoning by stating, "Given the duration and method of the offense and the amount of damage, the crime is extremely serious," adding, "The victim has suffered extreme stress and depression due to the continuous threats and demands for money from the defendant, and therefore requested severe punishment."
A has reportedly filed an appeal on the 2nd against the ruling of the second trial.
Earlier, A was accused of threatening Kim Junsu 101 times from September of the year after they met in 2019 to last month, extorting valuables worth about 800 million won.
A recorded conversations and audio with Kim Junsu and threatened to distribute the recordings on social media, reportedly receiving valuables from Kim Junsu in exchange for preventing this. In particular, it has been investigated that A committed the offenses to secure funds for drug use.
Kim Junsu has appealed that he suffered for 5 years from threats and was extorted out of 800 million won. His agency, Palm Tree Island, noted, "A continued these threats because she knew Kim Junsu was a celebrity, exploiting the public's attention. Although the defendant recognized that Kim Junsu had done nothing wrong, she did not stop these actions, abusing his status as a celebrity." They emphasized that "in this case, Kim Junsu is clearly a victim."
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]