[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Jong-gil] In the appeal trial of singers Jung Joon-young and Choi Jong-hoon, who were sentenced to prison in the first trial for charges including participating in gang rape with members of a group chat room, the prosecution requested that the court sentence them to 7 years and 5 years in prison respectively, as in the original sentence. On the 9th, at the Seoul High Court Criminal Division 12, during the appeal trial verdict hearing for the case involving violations of the Special Act on the Punishment of Sexual Crimes, the prosecution stated, “We ask that the defendants' appeals be dismissed and the prosecutor's appeal be accepted.” They also requested a re-examination of the legal aspects where the defendants were acquitted of joint rape.
The prosecution had requested 7 years imprisonment for Jung Joon-young and 5 years for Choi Jong-hoon in the first trial. For Kwon, the older brother of a famous singer, the prosecution requested 10 years imprisonment. In his final statement, Jung Joon-young said, “Above all, I must reflect for life on the immoral and malicious things I said to the victims,” and added, “I will live reflecting deeply on my immature past.” Choi Jong-hoon said, “Although I claim innocence, I am well aware of the wounds inflicted on the female victims and am working hard to help their recovery,” and added, “I believe I must apologize to the victims and will live my life remembering this case, serving and dedicating myself diligently.”
Jung Joon-young and Choi Jong-hoon were sentenced to 6 years and 5 years imprisonment respectively in the first trial last November. They were indicted while in custody on charges of gang rape of intoxicated women in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province in January 2016 and in Daegu in March 2016. Jung Joon-young also faces charges of distributing illegal recordings eleven times, including revealing that he had sexual relations with women in a KakaoTalk chatroom involving entertainers at the end of 2015 and sending secretly filmed videos. Last month, he received a summary order of a 1 million won fine for a separate prostitution charge. Choi Jong-hoon was also sentenced last month to 1 year imprisonment with 2 years probation for separate charges including illegal filming. Their sentencing date is scheduled for the 7th of next month.
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