Former group NCT member Taeil has been sentenced to imprisonment and taken into custody.
On the 10th, the Seoul Central District Court Criminal Division 26 (Director General Lee Hyun-kyung) sentenced Taeil and two others to 3 years and 6 months in prison for violating the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Violence Crimes (special rape). Additionally, they were ordered to complete 40 hours of sexual violence treatment programs, notified of personal information disclosure, and were banned from employment at child and adolescent-related institutions as well as institutions for people with disabilities for five years.
The court noted, "As a prison sentence is determined in the first instance, there is a concern for escape, thus a detention warrant is issued," and took him into custody.
Earlier, on June 13 last year at around 2:33 a.m., Taeil and two friends allegedly incapacitated a Chinese woman they met at a bar in Itaewon, Yongsan District, Seoul, and transported her by taxi to their residence in Bangbae-dong, where they allegedly gang-raped her while she was unconscious.
As a result, Taeil was expelled from the group NCT and had his exclusive contract with SM Entertainment terminated. SM Entertainment stated, "We have recently confirmed that Taeil has been prosecuted in connection with a sexual crime. While determining the facts related to this matter, we recognized the seriousness of the situation and decided that he could no longer continue team activities, discussing it with Taeil, leading to the decision for his departure from the team."
During the first trial held on the 18th of last month, the three individuals acknowledged all their charges, and Taeil expressed, "I am truly sorry to everyone who feels disappointed in me," and pleaded, "If you show leniency, I will consider it the last opportunity given to me in my life and will do my best to live while contributing to society in any way possible."
The prosecution pointed out, "The defendants discussed deliberately sending the victim to a different place from the crime scene while transporting her after the crime. Utilizing the fact that the victim was a foreign national, there was an intention to make her forget the crime scene or prevent the police from pursuing them," adding, "Considering the defendants' claims, I have significant doubts about whether they sincerely repent and reflect on the incident," and requested a sentence of 7 years.
[Photo] OSEN DB
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