BIGBANG Ex-Member Seungri (Lee Seung-hyun), who caused public outrage with the "Burning Sun Scandal," was finally arrested.
Seungri Goes to Prison
Last August 12, the General Military Court of the Ground Operations Command in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do, held the first-trial sentencing for Seungri, who has been indicted on nine counts, along with prostitution brokerage.
The court discovered that there is no consistency and credibility with the case because the police and prosecution investigation and then statements in the court are constantly changing. That is why they admitted all nine charges against Seungri and then sentenced him to three years in prison and a fine of 1,156,900 Won or $989.70.
An arrest warrant was issued saying that there is a risk of escape. Because of this, Seungri was arrested on the spot and moved to a camp with the 55th Division's Military Police.
Article 137 of the Enforcement Decree of the Military Service Act specifies that those who have been sentenced to one year and six months in prison or imprisonment without prison labor will be moved to wartime labor service. Thus they have no choice but to discharge.
In February 2019, he was named as a key individual in the Gangnam Club Burning Sun incident, and he caused an outrage. After this, Seungri terminated his contract with YG entertainment and withdrew from the boy group Big Bang.
He was then sent to the prosecution in June 2019 and was handed over to trial in January 2020 without detention. That time, the prosecution applied for an arrest warrant for Seungri. However, it was dismissed for there was no fear of hiding evidence or escaping, and he was placed on trial without detention.
On March 9, 2020, Seungri was enlisted at the Army 6th Division Recruit Training Center in Cheorwon, Gangwon-do. After that, a controversy over escaping the military surfaced. Since Seungri was enlisted in the military, the case was moved to the military court. After a total of 24 trials, Seungri denied most of the charges that surrounded him.
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Seungri Denies the Allegations
Particularly, at the decision trial held last July, Seungri denied most of the allegations against him and stated that it could not be connected to him. He then questioned the police about his arrest and said that he spent three years reflecting on his own actions. He then promised to be reborn through the incident. He also apologized to his fans, family, Big Bang, and YG entertainment.
But the prosecution responded that he is passing the responsibility onto others without even thinking about it. They added that he had benefited the most from the crime that has been going on for several years. He was then sentenced to five years in prison with a fine of 20 million won or $17,088.23.
The Burning Sun Scandal and other Crimes
The court, on the other hand, said that it is difficult to say that Seungri didn't know that the price was paid for by YG Entertainment. It seems that it has been prepared and implemented properly. They added that it showed a wrong coming-of-age ceremony, and it caused social harm like prostitution and harming good customs. So the court concluded that severe punishment is needed.
About the allegation of embezzling, 528 million won or $451,205.86 worth of Burning Sun Club funds, and 22 million won or $18,794.19 of Yuri Holdings' funds, the court stated that Seungri used the company's assets as if they were private property and used it as a detour method. It was consistent because it was legitimate, and a contract was signed with the company. The crime shouldn't be taken lightly because the amount in question is large.
From December 2013 to August 2017, he was charged with gambling that is worth 2.2 billion won or $1,879,974.34 in Las Vegas hotels and casinos. The crime is not light considering the period of gambling and its method.
As to the allegation of a special assault teacher, the court said that the crime is quite bad, that he called someone and threatened that he was in a bad mood. He added that there is a need for a reasonable punishment, for he denied that he did not know it, and he even received a significant psychological shock.
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The Final Verdict
But the court discovered that there was room for consideration that Seungri had no criminal prosecution history and that, with the case of a violation of the Special Administrative Law. The biggest shareholder first demanded an operating profit dividend, and the other shareholders also received it.
Furthermore, considering that there was consent from the shareholders, no immediate real damage from the dividend and that the victim of a special assault teacher didn't want to be punished, his sentence was lessened to only three years in prison.
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: Former Big Bang Member Seungri Sentenced to Prison for 3 Years
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Written by Annie Barmaine.
