The case of singer Kim Ho-joong, who received a prison sentence of 2 years and 6 months in the first and second trials for drunk driving and hit-and-run charges, is going to the Supreme Court.
According to the legal community on the 1st, Kim Ho-joong submitted a notice of appeal to the court through his legal representative that day, just 6 days after the second trial was held.
Earlier, on the 25th of last month, the 5-3 division of the Seoul Central District Court (Director General Judge Kim Ji-sun, So Byeong-jin, Kim Yong-jung) held a trial date for the appeal of Kim Ho-joong, who was indicted for violating the law on aggravated punishment for specific crimes (dangerous driving causing injury), and sentenced him to 2 years and 6 months in prison, the same as the first trial. The representative of the agency and the Deputy Minister, who were also indicted together, received the same sentences of 2 years and 1 year and 6 months, respectively, as in the first trial.
The court stated, "Considering the testimonies of the involved parties, the footage of entering and exiting the bar before and after drinking, and the vehicle driving videos, it appears that the defendant consumed a considerable amount of alcohol on the day of the incident," and noted that "the defendant’s ability to think and judge was significantly impaired due to alcohol, leading to the accident."
Kim Ho-joong drove under the influence on May 9 of last year and hit a taxi parked on the opposite road in Apgujeong-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, before fleeing the scene. After the accident, Kim Ho-joong's manager reported to the police in his stead, and Kim Ho-joong turned himself in 17 hours later, admitting that he was the one driving. As a result, he was arrested and indicted on charges of dangerous driving causing injury and fleeing the scene, along with violating the Road Traffic Act regarding failing to take action after an accident.
However, the charge of drunk driving was excluded. Kim Ho-joong directly admitted to drinking, and the police confirmed that he visited a restaurant in Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, to have a meal with alcohol before the accident, but due to his use of the method of 'drinking and driving away' after crashing into the taxi, the prosecution excluded the charge of drunk driving at the indictment stage.
In the first trial held on Nov. 13 of last year, the Criminal Division 26 of the Seoul Central District Court (Judge Choi Min-hye) sentenced him to 2 years and 6 months in prison. Both Kim Ho-joong's side and the prosecution appealed, but the second trial upheld the same sentence of 2 years and 6 months.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]