The Deputy Minister of the entertainment establishment who blackmailed the late Lee Seon-kyun has been sentenced to seven years in prison in the appeals trial, the same as in the first trial.
On the morning of the 21st, a sentencing hearing for Deputy Minister A and former actor B on the charge of extortion was held in the 3rd Criminal Appeals Division of the Incheon District Court (Director General Choi Seong-bae).
On this day, the prosecution requested the court to impose a seven-year prison sentence on A. The prosecution had previously requested a seven-year sentence in the first trial as well. The sentencing for B was not conducted due to the absence of B's legal representative.
A's lawyer noted in the final argument, "The defendant seems to have made a wrong choice due to excessive fear from threatening behavior by an unidentified individual and is reflecting on their mistake. This crime originated from the threats of the co-defendant, and the defendant is being excessively criticized due to their profession and media attention, more than the actual actions taken."
He continued, "I hope you will take into account the fact that a separate trial is currently being conducted for actions in which the defendant was not actually involved when determining the sentence, and I hope you will clarify whether there was any illegality in the original judgment."
Through a final statement, A conveyed, "Even though this trial is coming to an end, I will strive to ensure that I pay the consequences to the victim's family for life."
Previously, A has been accused of extorting 300 million won from actor Lee Seon-kyun in September 2023. A was arrested and indicted on charges of blackmailing the deceased by phone for 300 million won, and according to police investigations, the hacker who threatened A at the time was revealed to be B. A was sentenced to three years and six months in prison during the first trial held on December 19 of last year and is currently serving the sentence. B received a sentence of four years and two months.
Meanwhile, Lee Seon-kyun reported that he was threatened by A and others in October 2023, but later, during the police investigation, A claimed that Lee was involved in drug use, leading to a related investigation.
In this process, Lee Seon-kyun was summoned by the police three times and tested negative for drug use while denying the allegations, but his claims were not accepted. Then, on December 27, 2023, he was found dead in a vehicle parked near his home in Seoul, causing sorrow.
[Photo] OSEN DB
[OSEN]