Singer Taeil, a former member of the group NCT who was sentenced to prison in the first trial and detained on charges of gang rape, was also handed a prison sentence in the second trial.
On the 17th, the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 11-3 (Presiding Judges Park Young-ju, Park Jae-woo, Jeong Moon-gyeong) sentenced Taeil, who was indicted on charges of violating the Act on Special Cases Concerning the Punishment of Sexual Crimes (aggravated gang rape), to three years and six months in prison, the same as the first trial. Two accomplices were each sentenced to three years and six months in prison.
The court also ordered them to complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment program and barred them from employment at institutions related to children, adolescents and people with disabilities for five years.
Earlier, Taeil submitted a letter of remorse on Jun. 13 seeking a reduced sentence, but the court dismissed appeals by the three defendants and the prosecution.
Prosecutors say that on Jun. 13 last year, Taeil, along with two friends, met a Chinese woman at a bar in Itaewon, Yongsan District, Seoul, at about 2:33 a.m., got her drunk, put her in a taxi and moved her to their residence in Bangbae-dong, and that they gang raped the woman who was extremely intoxicated and unconscious.
As a result, Taeil was expelled from his former group NCT and his exclusive contract with SM Entertainment was terminated. SM Entertainment said, "We recently confirmed that Taeil has been accused in a criminal case related to a sex crime. While ascertaining the facts, we recognized that the matter was very serious and decided that he could no longer continue team activities, and after discussing with Taeil, we decided he would leave the team."
At the first hearing in Jun., Taeil and the two accomplices admitted the charges, and Taeil pleaded for mercy, saying, "I am so sorry to everyone who felt disappointed in me," and "If you show leniency, I will consider it the last chance given to me in my life and live doing my best while doing any work that contributes even a little to society."
The first trial court sentenced him to three years and six months in prison, explaining the reasons for sentencing, "The victim was sequentially raped while in a state unable to resist due to intoxication, and the nature of the crime is very bad."
Afterward, both the prosecution and the three defendants filed appeals challenging the decision, but all were dismissed that day.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]