Rapper Yoon Byung Ho, who was charged with drug use, has been sentenced to 7 years in prison in the appeal trial.
The Suwon District Court’s Criminal Division 2-1 sentenced Yoon Byung-ho to 7 years in prison on charges of violating the Narcotics Control Act on the 29th of August. This sentence is an increase of 6 months from the previous trial, which sentenced him to 4 years and 2 years and 6 months in prison. The prosecution had requested a 10-year prison sentence last month.
The judge stated, “The defendant’s claims are difficult to accept. Considering the evidence, such as text messages regarding the purchase of drugs, the original trial’s decision to find him guilty is reasonable. The defendant’s actions of purchasing and using various drugs over a long period of time require strict punishment when considering the details and amount of drugs involved.” The judge also mentioned, “The defendant’s behavior of continuing to use drugs during the trial shows a lack of remorse and aggravates the severity of the crime.”
Yoon Byung Ho was previously sentenced to 4 years in prison in the first trial for multiple instances of purchasing and using drugs from 2019 to last year, including using drugs with an acquaintance at his residence in July 2022. He was also sentenced to an additional 2 years and 6 months in prison for the charge of drug purchase until April last year, and the two cases were merged. While Yoon Byung Ho admitted to most of the charges in the first trial, he denied some of the charges in the appeal trial.
Yoon Byung Ho gained recognition through appearances on Mnet’s “High School Rapper” and “Show Me the Money” hip-hop auditions. Afterwards, he posted a handwritten apology letter on social media, stating, “I am extremely ashamed. I am sorry for betraying everyone’s trust.”
Source: (A)
