Yang Hyun Suk, former executive producer (CEO) of YG Entertainment, was acquitted in the first trial after being charged with intimidating an informant to cover up a drug investigation by a singer under his agency.
On December 22nd, the 23rd Criminal Agreement Division of the Seoul Central District Court acquitted former CEO Yang, who was charged with threatening retaliation under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes. The judge said, “There is insufficient evidence to conclude that the accused threatened the victim by notifying the victim of specific and direct harm.”
In August 2016, when former singer-trainee A, who was arrested on drug charges, testified about drug purchases by former member B.I of the idol group iKON, former CEO Yang persuaded trainee A to cover up the investigation. He was charged with threatening (threatening retaliation under the Act on the Aggravated Punishment of Specific Crimes).
Trainee A testified in court that former CEO Yang called her to the YG Entertainment building and urged her to reverse the statement against B.I, saying, “It’s not even going to kill you alone.”
Former CEO Yang continued to deny the allegations, saying, “It is impossible for me to say such a thing.” B.I was belatedly handed over to trial in May of last year and was sentenced to 3 years in prison and 4 years probation.
During the probation period in April, Trainee A, who was imprisoned for taking methamphetamine, appeared at Yang’s trial and said, “Please don’t be prejudiced because of the bad past. I am an obvious victim. I want the accused to be properly punished. I even revealed my private life that I didn’t want to reveal. I have made a sacrifice.”
Yang Hyun Suk has previously refuted the rumours. He said that what the trainee claimed was not true, saying that he had been talking carefully while living as a celebrity for 30 years and that B.I tested negative for internal drugs and he had great faith in B.I. He added that the trainee’s attitude at the time of cross-examination was very disrespectful, adding that he wanted to record it in the report.
Former CEO Yang Hyun Suk is accused of conciliating and threatening singer trainee A, who was arrested by the police in August 2016, when they testified to former iKON member B.I‘s drug purchase charges.
Source:(A)
