“Serious criminal record, risk of flight”… ‘Drug abuse’ Yoo Ah-in, eventually arrested

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[Sports Chosun Jung Bit Reporter] Actor Yoo Ah-in (Uhm Hong-sik, 38), who was handed over to trial on charges of drug use, has been sentenced to one year in prison in the first trial and has been legally detained.

Seoul Central District Court’s Criminal Division 25 (presiding judge Ji Gui-yeon) sentenced Yoo Ah-in, who was indicted for violation of the Act on the Management of Narcotics (psychotropic drugs), to one year in prison, a fine of 2 million won, about 1.54 million won in restitution. The court also ordered him to complete 80 hours of drug rehabilitation education programs and pay about 1.54 million won in restitution.

The court said, “Yoo Ah-in committed the offense by exploiting the loopholes in the methods for managing medical narcotics defined by the law, so his guilt is not favorable,” and said, “Considering various circumstances revealed in the records, it seems unlikely to view his dependence on psychotropic drugs as low and the likelihood of reoffense as low.”

Furthermore, the court expressed concern that “due to the sentenced imprisonment, there is a concern for flight, so we will detain him in court,” and detained Yoo Ah-in.

Yoo Ah-in reportedly said in response to the first trial verdict, “I apologize for causing concern and worry to many people.”

Previously, the prosecution had demanded four years in prison in July. During the determination trial, the prosecution sentenced Yoo Ah-in to four years in prison, a fine of 2 million won, and restitution of 1.54 million won, but in the first trial, a lesser sentence was imposed.

During the determination trial, Yoo Ah-in stated in his final argument, “I deeply reflect on my mistakes and want to express my apologies. Through this incident, I have had time to look back on my entire life. I swear to live as a more responsible and mature person.”

Yoo Ah-in was indicted without detention on charges of habitual injection of medical propofol and other drugs at a hospital in Seoul from September 2020 to March 2022. He also faces charges of illegally obtaining 1,100 sleeping pills in another person’s name from May 2021 to August 2022. Additionally, he was involved in smoking marijuana in the United States with four accomplices, including his acquaintance Choi Mo, and was charged with instructing others to smoke. Choi Mo, who is on trial with Yoo Ah-In as an accomplice, was sentenced to two years of suspended imprisonment.

As for six doctors who were handed over to trial on charges of prescribing narcotics on behalf of Yoo Ah-in, they have received guilty verdicts ranging from fines to imprisonment with suspended execution.

Reporter Jung Bit [email protected]