Prosecutors sought a two-year prison term for comedian Lee Jin-ho, 40, who was put on trial on charges of habitual gambling and drunk driving.
On Aug. 14, at a sentencing hearing before Senior Judge Ahn Tae-yoon of Criminal Division 1 at the Yeoju Branch of the Suwon District Court, prosecutors asked the court to sentence Lee to two years in prison.
Lee is accused of habitually gambling after transferring a total of about 870 million won to a gambling site over 664 transactions from May 11, 2023, to Oct. 14 last year, converting it into cyber money.
A drunk driving charge was also applied. Lee was found to have driven about 70 kilometers on Sept. 24 last year with a blood alcohol level of 0.12%.
Lee's attorney said, "The defendant is deeply remorseful and admits all the charges," and noted, "There is no prior criminal record, and Lee is determined never to commit a crime again."
Lee also appealed for leniency, saying, "I have lived each day in regret after committing the wrongdoing," and, "I will never do wrong again."
On May 29, Lee was indicted without detention on charges including habitual gambling and violating the Road Traffic Act (drunk driving). Police opened an investigation after receiving a civil petition through the National Sinmungo to look into Lee's alleged gambling and fraud, and referred the case to prosecutors.
Earlier, in April, Lee collapsed from a cerebral hemorrhage and underwent treatment and rehabilitation. He appeared in court that day on crutches.
The sentencing hearing for Lee will be held at 9:40 a.m. on the 1st of next month.