Kim Himchan, a former B.A.P. member who was handed over to trial on charges of sexual harassment, was sentenced to prison in the first trial.
On February 24, Chung Sung Wan, a senior judge at the Seoul Central District Court, sentenced Himchan to 10 months in prison and ordered him to complete a 40-hour sexual violence treatment program.
"The defendant denies the charges, but evidence shows that the victim's statement is credible and supports the indictment," the court said. "Thus, it was deemed that the defendant is guilty and was sentenced to 10 years in prison."
However, it was also clarified that the idol will not be arrested in the court, and will be given a chance to received forgiveness from the victim.
Former B.A.P Member Himchan Sentenced to 10 Months In Prison For Molesting A Woman Back In 2018
Earlier in July 2018, while drinking with two acquaintances and three women at a pension in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, a woman in her 20s reported that she was forcibly molested, and police were dispatched to the scene.
As a result, Himchan was investigated in August of that year, but denied the charges, saying, "We liked each other," and in April 2020, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors' Office was indicted without detention on charges of forced molestation of Himchan.
Later, during the investigation and first trial, A claimed that the molestation took place regardless of his intention, but Himchan denied it and refuted it to the effect that there was an implied consent before the act because they liked each other.
Himchan said, "We used to like each other and it was physical contact with implied consent."
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Ex-BAP Member Himchan Sparked More Controversy For Being Caught Driving Under Influence After Sexual Assault Allegations
Meanwhile, Himchan released a single in October last year while the trial was underway, sparking controversy.
The focus of the media and netizens to the idol became more intense as the day after the single was released, he was arrested without detention after he was caught driving under the influence of alcohol near Hakdong intersection in Dosan-daero, Gangnam-gu, Seoul.
Acknowledging the fact that he was drunk driving, Himchan apologized, saying, "I deeply repent and reflect on myself," and "I will live my life with self-reflection."
Meanwhile, Himchan made his debut as a member of the group B.A.P, a South Korean boy group formed on January 26, 2012, under TS Entertainment, a group which was used to be named with the most No. 1 Billboard World Albums Chart in 2013 to 2014. In addition to the forced molestation case, Himchan caused a stir in October 2020 due to a drunk driving accident.
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Written by Eunice Dawson
